Minelab Manticore Coin Settings for UK Coins
If you are looking for effective Minelab Manticore settings for finding UK coins, the settings below are those we use ourselves at Metal Searchers.
We have spent many years metal detecting on a variety of sites and ground conditions, and these Manticore settings have proved particularly effective when searching for non-ferrous UK coins.
They are not intended to be a magical set of settings that will work perfectly in every location. Ground mineralisation, electromagnetic interference, iron contamination, target depth and local conditions can all affect detector performance.
Instead, think of these settings as a proven starting point that you can fine-tune for your particular detecting site.
Our Minelab Manticore Coin Hunting Setup
Our preferred starting search mode for general UK coin detecting is:
Search Mode: All-Terrain General
All-Terrain General provides an excellent starting point for general-purpose detecting and is particularly useful when searching sites containing a mixture of targets.
We then customise the detector using the settings below.
Frequency
Frequency: Multi-IQ+
We normally use the Manticore's Multi-IQ+ simultaneous multi-frequency operation rather than selecting an individual frequency.
Multi-IQ+ allows the detector to analyse the ground and targets using multiple frequencies simultaneously and provides an excellent general-purpose platform for coin detecting.
Individual frequencies can occasionally be useful in specialised circumstances, particularly when dealing with electromagnetic interference, but Multi-IQ+ is our normal choice.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity: As high as conditions reliably permit
It is tempting to simply run the Manticore at maximum sensitivity, but this does not necessarily result in better detecting performance.
We prefer to increase sensitivity until the detector starts becoming unstable and then reduce it sufficiently to obtain a reasonably stable detector.
A slightly lower sensitivity setting with a clear, repeatable target response is generally more useful than maximum sensitivity accompanied by constant false signals and chatter.
The optimum sensitivity will therefore depend on:
- Ground mineralisation
- Electromagnetic interference
- Nearby electrical equipment
- Search coil being used
- Amount of iron and other rubbish in the ground
- Wet or dry ground conditions
Recovery Speed
Recovery Speed: 3
We use a Recovery Speed setting of 3 as our general starting point.
Recovery Speed determines how quickly the detector can respond to separate targets that are close together.
Lower settings can favour depth on isolated targets, while higher settings can improve target separation in heavily contaminated ground.
For general coin searching we find that 3 provides a useful balance, but don't be afraid to experiment.
On particularly iron-contaminated or trashy sites, increasing Recovery Speed may make individual targets easier to distinguish.
Audio Theme
Our preferred audio settings are:
- Audio Theme: Normal
- Threshold Level: 6
- Threshold Pitch: 1
- Profile: Simple
These settings provide the audio response we prefer when searching for coins.
Audio is highly personal, however, so we recommend experimenting until you find tones that allow you to recognise desirable targets comfortably during a long detecting session.
Target Tones
We use:
5-Region All Tones
Our tone-region configuration is:
Tone Region 1
- Start: 0
- Start Pitch: 2
- Volume: 0
- End: 1
- End Pitch: 2
Tone Region 2
- Start: 2
- Start Pitch: 3
- Volume: 25
- End: 25
- End Pitch: 12
Tone Region 3
- Start: 26
- Start Pitch: 12
- Volume: 25
- End: 50
- End Pitch: 22
Tone Region 4
- Start: 51
- Start Pitch: 22
- Volume: 25
- End: 75
- End Pitch: 34
Tone Region 5
- Start: 76
- Start Pitch: 34
- Volume: 25
- End: 99
- End Pitch: 50
This gives progressively higher audio pitches as target conductivity increases, making it easier to distinguish different target regions by ear.
As you gain experience with your Manticore, listening to the quality and repeatability of the audio response can become just as important as watching the Target ID number.
Ferrous Volume
Ferrous Volume: 3
We keep the ferrous response relatively quiet.
This allows us to hear that iron is present without having the ferrous audio dominate the detecting session.
Completely silencing iron isn't always desirable because hearing iron can provide valuable information about what is happening beneath the search coil.
Ferrous Pitch
Ferrous Pitch: 1
This provides a clearly distinguishable low-pitched response for ferrous targets.
Ferrous Indication
Ferrous Indication: On
We prefer to have Ferrous Indication enabled so that the detector provides as much information as possible when assessing a target.
The Manticore's 2D Target Identification display is particularly useful because it provides both conductive and ferrous information rather than relying solely on a single Target ID number.
Stabiliser
Our settings are:
- Stabiliser: 0
- Stabiliser Filter: Off
The Stabiliser can be useful on sites where iron falsing becomes a problem.
We prefer to begin at zero rather than unnecessarily suppressing potentially useful target responses and adjust it only when site conditions justify doing so.
Custom Ferrous Limits
We use:
Ferrous Limits: Custom 1
Our customised settings are as follows.
Upper Ferrous Limits
| Target ID | Ferrous Limit |
|---|---|
| 19 | 3 |
| 39 | 3 |
| 59 | 3 |
| 79 | 3 |
| 99 | 3 |
Lower Ferrous Limits
| Target ID | Ferrous Limit |
|---|---|
| 6 | -3 |
| 38 | -3 |
| 55 | -20 |
| 86 | -22 |
| 99 | -25 |
Ferrous Limits are one of the Manticore's most powerful features.
Rather than relying solely on conventional discrimination, they allow the detectorist to control how targets appearing above and below the central conductive line on the 2D ID Map are classified.
Don't treat any Ferrous Limits configuration as universally correct. Iron contamination and soil conditions vary enormously from one detecting site to another.
If you appear to be losing desirable targets close to iron, experiment with your Ferrous Limits rather than simply increasing discrimination.
Discrimination Pattern
We use a customised discrimination pattern.
Custom Pattern
Remove the existing grey lines and configure:
- ID Range: 0
- Selection Width: 1
Our preference is to hear and see plenty of information from the ground rather than heavily discriminating targets before investigating them.
One of the advantages of the Manticore is the amount of target information available through its combination of audio, Target ID and 2D Target Trace.
Ground Balance
Ground balance should be adjusted to suit the conditions at the site you are detecting.
We recommend carrying out a ground balance when appropriate rather than assuming that one fixed value will work everywhere.
Ground conditions can vary considerably between farmland, pasture, mineralised soil and beaches.
The Manticore provides automatic, manual and tracking ground-balance options, allowing you to select the method most appropriate for the site.
Noise Cancel
Perform a Noise Cancel before beginning your search, particularly if the detector is unstable or you are detecting near sources of electromagnetic interference.
It is also worth repeating Noise Cancel if conditions change or the detector becomes noticeably unstable during a session.
Keep the search coil clear of the ground and metal objects while carrying out the procedure.
General Settings
The following settings have little or no direct effect on target detection performance and can therefore largely be configured according to personal preference.
Language
Personal choice
Vibration
Off
We normally switch vibration off to reduce unnecessary battery consumption.
Display Lighting
Personal choice
Choose a brightness appropriate for the conditions.
Using excessive brightness when it isn't required will consume additional battery power.
Keypad Lighting
Personal choice
Flashlight
Off unless required
Soft Key Setup
Our preferred shortcut configuration is:
- Right-side User Button: Speaker Mute
- Left Action Bar Soft Key: All Metal
- Right Action Bar Soft Key: Noise Cancel
The Manticore's programmable shortcuts are extremely useful because they allow frequently used controls to be accessed without repeatedly navigating through menus.
Volume
Personal choice
Set the overall volume at a comfortable level appropriate for your headphones or the detector's internal speaker.
Avoid unnecessarily high headphone volume during long detecting sessions.
Should You Dig Only Particular Target ID Numbers?
We don't recommend relying exclusively on Target ID numbers when deciding whether to dig.
Target IDs can change because of:
- Target depth
- Target orientation
- Ground mineralisation
- Nearby iron
- Multiple targets beneath the coil
- Corrosion
- Target size and shape
A coin lying flat in clean soil can behave very differently from the same coin positioned on edge beside an iron nail.
Pay attention to the complete target response:
- Target ID
- Audio
- Repeatability
- Target Trace
- Ferrous indication
- Signal from different sweep directions
When in doubt, dig the target.
Unexpected signals are part of what makes metal detecting interesting.
Adjust These Settings to Your Ground Conditions
Although these settings work well for us, no single Manticore configuration can be ideal for every detecting site.
For example, a quiet pasture site containing relatively little modern rubbish requires a different approach from a heavily contaminated habitation site containing nails, foil, aluminium and other metallic debris.
Similarly, wet beach sand presents very different conditions from inland farmland.
Treat our settings as a starting point and experiment with individual controls rather than changing several settings simultaneously.
Changing one setting at a time makes it much easier to understand whether the adjustment has actually improved detector performance.
Our Recommended Starting Settings at a Glance
| Setting | Our Starting Point |
|---|---|
| Search Mode | All-Terrain General |
| Frequency | Multi-IQ+ |
| Sensitivity | As high as conditions permit |
| Recovery Speed | 3 |
| Audio Theme | Normal |
| Audio Profile | Simple |
| Threshold Level | 6 |
| Threshold Pitch | 1 |
| Target Tones | 5-Region All Tones |
| Ferrous Volume | 3 |
| Ferrous Pitch | 1 |
| Ferrous Indication | On |
| Stabiliser | 0 |
| Stabiliser Filter | Off |
| Ferrous Limits | Custom 1 |
| Ground Balance | Adjust to site conditions |
| Noise Cancel | Perform for current conditions |
| Vibration | Off |
| Flashlight | Off unless required |
This table provides a useful starting point, but the detailed settings above explain how we configure the detector and why.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Minelab Manticore mode for UK coins?
We use All-Terrain General as our normal starting point when searching for UK coins on inland sites. Other modes can perform better in particular conditions, so this should not prevent you from experimenting.
Should I use Multi-IQ+ for coin detecting?
Multi-IQ+ is our normal choice for general coin detecting because it provides simultaneous multi-frequency operation and enables the Manticore's advanced Ferrous Limits functionality.
What Recovery Speed should I use on the Manticore?
We normally start at Recovery Speed 3. If the site contains large amounts of iron or closely spaced targets, experimenting with a higher Recovery Speed may improve separation.
What sensitivity should I use?
Use the highest sensitivity that allows the detector to remain reasonably stable. Maximum sensitivity is not automatically the best sensitivity.
Should I discriminate iron completely?
We prefer retaining some ferrous information rather than completely silencing iron. Knowing that iron is present can help you interpret complicated targets and identify potentially interesting non-ferrous targets located close to ferrous objects.
Do these settings work on beaches?
Some of the principles are transferable, but beach detecting - particularly on wet salt sand and in the surf - requires a different approach. The Manticore provides dedicated Beach search modes designed for those conditions.
Final Thoughts
The Minelab Manticore is an extremely configurable metal detector, and this flexibility is one of its greatest strengths.
The settings above are the configuration we use as a starting point when searching for non-ferrous UK coins. They have worked well for us, but we continue to experiment because conditions differ between detecting sites and there is always something new to learn.
Rather than concentrating solely on achieving maximum depth, we recommend learning how the Manticore responds to targets, how its 2D Target ID Map behaves and how desirable targets sound when mixed with iron.
That experience can ultimately be more valuable than any single detector setting.
If you use a Manticore and have developed settings or techniques that work particularly well for UK coins, please leave a comment below. Sharing practical experience helps other detectorists get more from this excellent machine.
Happy detecting!