19 Random Treasures People Found In Their Own Backyards That Awakened My Inner History Nerd

When I think of buried treasure, my mind usually goes to the tales of sunken pirate ships I heard in my youth. But it turns out, there's a whole community of modern treasure hunters out there, and they like to share their finds in the r/metaldetecting subreddit.

I don't think I'll ever pick up a metal detector myself, but I love seeing what these dedicated folks happen to find. Here are some of the best:

1. This $25,000 gold necklace someone lost at the beach:

2. This 1880s pocket watch cover someone found in the backyard of their 1800s-era home:

3. This gorgeous gold trinket with whimsical engravings in a dreamy font:

4. This old-timey pistol that looks like it belongs in Clue.

5. This nine-year haul I'm convinced came from a pirate ship at the bottom of the ocean (it didn't):

6. This medieval Roman coin that just might be from the Byzantine era(!!!):

7. This vintage 10k gold ring complete with perfectly preserved peridots:

8. This entire sword that probably sent the detector into a frenzy:

9. This mini Squidward statue that just makes me laugh:

10. This trinket that was identified as a piece of equipment from Napoleon's troops , and was donated to a museum:

11. This Los Angeles Sheriff's Deputy Badge from the 1910s:

12. This gold fountain pen tip that's nothing short of stunning:

13. These golden teeth I'm sure someone was very disappointed to lose back in the day:

14. This 1846 2.5-dollar gold coin in near-mint condition:

15. This emblem for the 1897 Grand Rapids "Carnival of Fun" :

16. This German WWII-era military helmet :

17. This vintage stopwatch that looks straight out of a steampunk fairytale:

18. This 15-gram gold nugget that probably would've been enough to buy an entire house during the Gold Rush era:

19. And finally, this wedding band dated on December 25, 1893:

Which of these finds is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.