By: Alan Mash

Why is the Garrett GTI 1500 the best metal detector for finding coins in the world? It is simple, because of the Imaging features. Imaging and Imaging, a Garrett exclusive. Other wise known as Treasure Vision.

It has been around awhile actually...since 1997. It also is in the Garrett GTI 2500 which this machine differers from the 1500 in that it has an All Metal Mode. It is a little heavier than the 1500 which why I say it is better than the 2500 for coin hunting although they are identical in the discrimination mode.

Why is the Imaging so important in coin hunting? It has 5 different sizes in its display after hitting a target. Most coin sizes are size B. Sometimes you will hit a coin spill and the multiple coins will size larger than B, but as you know these targets must be investigated as they will register in the upper scale of any machine as far as conductivity is concerned.

See the size graph on the detector screen on the right...it is color coded and black pixels will show up inside the color graph when a target is hit. If the target is size E, pixels will fill all sizes indicating it is a size E target.  The graphics on the top of the display show target evaluation as to what it might be. If you hit a size C target, look up at the graphics list and also the target conductivity. If you get a C size target and its conductivity displays an 8, then you most likely have a screw-cap.

As you see from the graph all coins will be size B. Want some coins? Dig all size B targets. A 12 oz can will most of the time be a size D and conductivity around 8.5 - 9 on the GTA scale. (graphic target analyzer scale) A coin popping beast this Garrett GTI 1500 is.

How deep will it detect a coin? With the stock 9.5 Imaging coil it will detect at respectable depths. I have found on both the 1500 and the 2500 that I crank the sensitivity up to around 10.5-11 (12 max) you will get better depth but can be unstable around a lot of electrical interference. A smoother operation set the sensitivity to around 6 - 7 out of 12 with almost an insignificant loss of depth.

Put the 12.5” Imaging coil on this machine and you will get another 2.5 - 3 inches + of depth and the Imaging is deadly on this coil. With this coil expect depths close to MInelab’s universal metal detectors like the Explorer and Safari. They come stock with an 11”DD coil and multi-frequency and cost twice as much as the GTI 1500. Stock machine to stock machine the Minelab’s will beat this 1500 on depth. To equal the playing field add the big 12.5” Imaging coil and go at it. You won’t be disappointed. But the Minelab’s do not have Imaging, enough said.

Whites V3 has a type of sizing feature that seems to work ok. I’d have to say if I had a choice for coin hunting however the Imaging of the 1500 vs the size feature of the V3, I’ll take it any day over the Whites. Why? The Garrett is easier to use, another Garrett exclusive on all their metal detectors.

The White’s V3 is a wallet numbing $1800.

The Whites is a great machine, but is very complicated. Kind of like Windows vs a Mac. Macs are easier and more user friendly. Both work. But I’ll get better results with less headaches and I will spend less money with the Garrett GTI 1500. And dig just size B targets? How easy is that?

A coin hunting metal detector at its finest the Garrett GTI 1500. It is what it was designed to do!

To see the GTI 1500’s little cousin, which has Profiling technology, click here: Garrett GTP 1350. It will show the size profile of a target, which not as detailed as the 1500, but it also is a coin magnet.

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