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White’s Electronics has a long history in the metal detecting industry going all the way back to 1950. 

Today, their products appeal to all budgets and all types of users seeking out a quality detector. 

If you’re a coin shooter or a beginner wanting to get into the hobby, White’s has a detector for you, the Coinmaster. 

It’s incredibly easy to use, is priced right within entry-level range, and it has solid performance you can rely on. 

Update: Whites’ announced in June 2020 that they were suspending their operations and in October 2020, Garrett Electronics announced their acquisition of White’s Electronics. As a result, the White’s Coinmaster is no longer available. Check out our list of the best coin finder metal detectors for some great alternatives.

Our Verdict: The Coinmaster is one of White’s most affordable metal detectors in the market.  It’s designed as simply as possible but with must-have features that provide precise and accurate detection of coins and lost jewelry.  For those looking for a metal detector on a budget from a reputable brand, the Coinmaster must be on your list. 

Who is the White’s Coinmaster Best Suited to?

The White’s metal detector is a basic unit that is simple to use and easy to interpret.  Those looking for coins and small jewelry don’t need the fancy features that come with more expensive models, a budget detector will do.  Its interface and basic functions are intended for recreational hobbyists, namely, those that are new to detecting and for older children looking for a new activity to fill their Summer days.  Intermediate and expert users won’t find much use for the Coinmaster, but for the beginner looking for hassle-free way to get started, Coinmaster may be the detector to start with. 

How Does the White’s Coinmaster Perform?

The Coinmaster metal detector is a VLF (Very Low Frequency) machine that operates at one frequency – 8 kHz.  This is in line with many other detectors under $200 that provide around the same level of performance with the 6-8 kHz frequency.  As such, it performs better for large, highly conductive metals with some good ground penetration.  With the Coinmaster’s other features, it’s sensitive enough to find coins and small jewelry while eliminating trash items and other undesired metals.  There’s not a whole lot to it as this unit is designed to turn on and get detecting.  Everything else has been factory-set to take care of the hard work for you. 

Features & Benefits

8 Target Categories

The Coinmaster has eight Target Categories that are sorted by type of metal: Iron, Foil, Nickels, Pull-Tabs, Screw Caps, Pennies, Quarters, and Half-Dollars.  Even though it’s designed for coins and jewelry and the categories are labelled as such, the detector will detect all metals regardless of its physical makeup.  For example, you can still find other treasures even if it’s not a listed coin or a ring.  The target will be identified by an arrow that shows under the metal category it belongs to.  This means that a gold dollar could possibly show up in the Screw-Caps or Copper Penny category even though there is no specific Target Category for “Gold Dollar Coins.” 

2 Search Modes

There are two, primary operating modes of the Coinmaster: All Metal and PinPoint.  You will be operating in All Metal most of the time.  This mode allows the detector to detect all types of metal with no discrimination, so all targets will be heard with an audio tone.  Solid and consistently repeatable beeps indicate you’ve detected an object. 

Pinpoint will allow you to precisely locate a detected object.  Sensitivity is increased, but you also have to practice locating exactly where to dig.  The P/P button activates Pinpoint, and you create an “X” to map out its center.  To master this feature, you must practice at home before you try it out in the field. 

Discrimination & Sensitivity

Besides the primary search modes, you can also discriminate and adjust sensitivity.  To discriminate means to notch out undesired metals from detection.  This means when iron, nails, pull-tabs, and other undesirables are detected, you will not hear an audio tone to indicate detection.  This enables you to spend more time finding desirable objects like coins and less time digging up trash.  Each target category you reject will be indicated on the display with a no audio signal symbol. 

You also have the ability to set sensitivity levels.  The sensitivity level will be shown on the display with segment bars, the more bars are filled, the higher the sensitivity.  This feature allows you to use maximum sensitivity to detect all types of metals and increase its detection of smaller-sized objects.  But, high sensitivity in trashy areas, high-salt conditions, and areas with a lot of electrical magnetic interference can cause the detector to behave erratically.  You must decrease sensitivity to dial out the increased noise/chatter experienced from the detector.  While it may help to correct for some of these problems, it may also decrease your chances of finding good objects, especially those obscured or adjacent to undesired metals. 

Depth Indicator

Not only does your detector indicate what type of target you may have, it also provides a probable depth of your target.  This is displayed on the screen with segments that relate to the white, numbered references on the control box face.  It provides a probable depth from 0-8”+ with 2” increments.  I say “probable” depth accurate and precise detection depends on many factors from ground conditions to size, depth, and orientation of the target. 

Ultra-lightweight

The Coinmaster is like many entry-level detectors that are very lightweight.  It weighs a mere 2.5 lbs.  Its light weight is suitable for long searching sessions as well as reducing fatigue and strain with use.  It’s also a very convenient feature that allows it to be handled by a variety of users from young to old. 

Limitations

Quality Control Issues

It seems there are very few models that just don’t seem to function as expected right from the get-go.  Some models consistently beep erratically, and others have issues with powering on.  Regardless of the quality issue, the Coinmaster is warrantied by the manufacturer for two years from the purchase date.

Preset Ground Balance

Having preset ground balance is not an inherently bad feature.  In fact, for beginners it may be preferred as it’s one of those things that is often misunderstood or difficult to use.  Ground Balance allows a user to match the metal detector to the phase of the ground to neutralize ‘false signals.’ 

These false signals are due to minerals in the ground like salt or iron oxides that may appear to be positive detections of metal.  Having auto or manual ground balance is necessary for many intermediate users and is essential for experts to go hunting in a variety of soil conditions for many hard-to-find objects like gold nuggets. 

Preset ground balance takes the ‘thinking’ out of it for beginners, and if they’re sticking with some reasonable ground conditions, decreasing the sensitivity may be able to correct for other problems that may arise. 

Popular Questions

Is the Coinmaster Waterproof?

The White’s Coinmaster detector is not waterproof as it’s only water-resistant.  However, the searchcoil is waterproof, so it can be submerged into shallow freshwater areas, but it’s not recommended for beach use.  Saltwater and wet sand are ground soils that may set off the detector with false signals.  To search on beaches with this detector, you should decrease sensitivity, but it may cause you to pass over good objects. 

Does the White’s Metal Detector have a Headphone Jack?

Yes, there is both a speaker and headphone jack on the control box of the detector.  The speaker is loud, but there is no volume adjustment.   It’s recommended that you use headphones with the Coinmaster to provide privacy and conserve battery life.  If you purchase headphones with a volume adjustment, you can control volume through it. 

What Batteries does the Coinmaster Take?

The Coinmaster metal detector requires 2x 9V batteries to operate.  You will have up to 20 hours of use.  Using headphones and staying in All Metal mode will help to conserve battery life. 

Where is White’s Metal Detector Made?

White’s is an internationally recognized brand, but they a family-run business founded and based in the United States.  Their detectors are made in the USA. 

Is this a Motion Detector?

It’s a motion detector with non-motion pinpoint.  This means the coil must continuously be in a sweeping motion to provide a signal on a detected object. When you hear solid, repeatable beeps and the display indicates the type of find, switch into pinpoint where you slow down your movements to pin its exact location. 

Conclusion

This is one of White’s entry-level detectors and is priced as such.  It has basic features so a starter hobbyist can get a handle on how detecting works.  Mainly designed for those looking for coins and little trinkets, the Coinmaster would make a great, first-time buy for the adult or child.  With target categories, a depth indicator, pinpoint, and discrimination, you can get detecting right away while you learn the ropes to detecting.

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