New Minelab MANTICORE Coils - 3 more options
In early September 2023, 'Gold Rat Metal Detectors' received the 2 then-new coils for the Minelab MANTICORE detector - being the M8 coil, and the M15 coil.
In May 2024, MINELAB announced the pending release of a 4th coil - the M9 coil.
All four MANTICORE coils are of Double-D (DD) wiring configuration. These coils are only compatible for use with the MANTICORE detector (and likewise the Equinox range of coils are not compatible with the MANTICORE detector).
The three new Minelab MANTICORE coils are:
M8 (8x5.5" size or 21x15cm) - weighs about 390 grams (AU$379)
M15 (15x12" size or 38x30.5cm) - weighs about 640 grams (AU$499)
M9 (9" round) - weighs about 380 grams (AU$429)
Now, you were probably thinking that the new M15 coil will be significantly heavier than the M11 coil. NOT SO ! Rather surprisingly ..... the M15 coil is only 70 grams heavier than the M11 coil.
The MANTICORE detector and all 4 Minelab MANTICORE coils are rated as FULLY-WATERPROOF to a depth of 5 metres. They also each have a 3-Year Minelab Warranty.
All new coils (made by Minelab, and also made by the 2 Aussie businesses of Coiltek & NuggetFinder, for the extensive range of Minelab detectors) include a skid plate attached to the coil.
Initial Indicative Testing "in-house"
Preliminary testing of the small M8 coil with the MANTICORE set on the 'Goldfield' search mode, and also set on a moderate Sensitivity setting of only 20 (since this prelim. testing was only inside of our EMI-prone retail store) - achieved the following maximum air-depths (and Target ID numbers - TID) on two different-sized/shaped Aussie gold nuggets:
> a flat, sub-gram (0.38gram) gold nugget = 7.5cm / 3" (with a TID range of 8 to 10); and
> > a "jelly bean-shaped" (ellipsoid), gold nugget - weighing ten (10) grams = 17.5cm / 7" (with a TID range of 13 to 15).
Additionally, preliminary testing of the large M15 coil with the MANTICORE set on the 'All-Terrain General' search mode, and also set on a moderate Sensitivity setting - achieved the following maximum air-depth (and Target ID numbers) on an Aussie $2 decimal coin:
> > > $2 coin = 22cm / 9" (with a TID range of 62 to 65).
With increased ground coverage, in conjunction with greater depth capability, I can hardly wait to unleash the M15 coil soon at my favourite detecting beaches near Brisbane.
The MANTICORE with the M11 coil already punches deep, particularly in dry sand, so it will be very interesting to see what deeper finds are unearthed using the larger M15 coil (which has a footprint area about 50% larger than the M11 coil).
I am also very keen to use the M8 coil (that I have dubbed the "Mate" coil) at an abandoned, trash-riddled, old town site in the bush in SE Qld - where I have detected many British & Aussie pre-decimal coins using the M11 coil on my MANTICORE.
I have been impressed by the immunity of the MANTICORE against electrical interference when running the M11 coil, so I was keen to see how the larger M15 coil performed when high levels of EMI/RFI were present.
Talking about EMI . . . . . on the weekend of Sat 11 May 2024, Australia experienced a SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM (Rated as a very high G4 Severity) - the strongest such event in about 20 years ! That afternoon, I went detecting on a Gold Coast beach with my MANTICORE fitted with the large M15 coil. I was able to run my MANTICORE on the-usual Sensitivity of 25, whilst set on 'Beach - Deep' search mode, and I DID NOT DETECT any unusual interference at any time over the 4 hours I was detecting. Fortunately, I also found five rings & several coins !
Early Customer Feedback
One of our customers who has now used a MANTICORE detector on Queensland beaches to find many items of jewellery & coins, recently purchased the M15 coil from Gold Rat. After only 2 hours of use, he rang us to tell us how impressed he is with this larger coil in terms of it's balance, and weight, and also depth performance. He also said that he was very happy to find a gold bracelet on his first use of the M15 coil. What an awesome way to start with this coil !
The same customer subsequently purchased the new M8 coil. After only about one hours use upon wet sand at a beach, the customer detected a 14K gold chain. This customer has now found many items of jewellery on wet sand, and also under shallow sea water. The M8 coil is his preferred coil to use in shallow water and saturated sand.
My Initial Use of the M15 Coil on Qld Beaches
I recently had the opportunity (and pleasure) to swing the M15 coil on several beaches (both north & south of Brisbane) for a few weeks (about 100 hours of use). WOW !
My MANTICORE was set on "Beach - Deep" search mode, and Sensitivity of between 21 and 25, with a Recovery Speed of between 4 to 6. I was very impressed with how deep some of my finds were (i.e. old/corroded 5 cent coins at significant depths in wet sand). I also easily detected an empty aluminium soft drink can at a depth of about 0.7 metres ! I also detected several rings, a pendent, a necklace, a bracelet, a bangle, and five single earrings (gold, and silver), and surprisingly, an Aussie Penny dated 1962, in dry sand.
On one of those days, I was accompanied by another experienced detectorist - who also (and very regularly) uses a MANTICORE detector + M15 coil. He easily detected a few silver rings, earrings, a chain, and coins, in both wet sands, and dry sands.
On most days I used the M15 coil I found both coins & jewellery. I was surprised at how sensitive the M15 coil is at detecting small silver jewellery like very small earrings. Using the M15 coil on the beach I find that I can generally cover nearly double the area of beach in a day - compared to when I used the M11 coil. I am also detecting targets significantly deeper than when I used the M11 coil. The weight difference between the M15 coil and the M11 coil is barely noticeable to me (on average I swing the M15 coil for between 6 to 8 hours per detecting day).
WHAT A BEAST OF A DETECTOR & COIL !
I was also impressed by the weight of this coil, and how well balanced it is. It was also easy to use the "Pinpointing" mode with accuracy. So far, I am impressed by the M15 coil. The only thing I could possibly fault (which is only a very minor issue for me) - is that I found that there was a slight build-up of super fine sand between the skid plate and the coil. I rectified this by removing the skid plate, and then using a soft bristle 2" painting brush to remove the sand.
I would be very excited if MINELAB were to make a 17" or 18" round DD coil (or a 19"x15" elliptical DD coil) for the MANTICORE that weighed under 800grams (for comparison the Coiltek NOX 18" round DD coil - for the Equinox range of detectors - weighs about 1 Kilogram).
A 17" or 18" round DD coil for the MANTICORE would be my primary choice of coil for beach hunting on dry and wet sand (not underwater). I reckon that with a MANTICORE set on the 'Beach - Deep' search mode, such a large & relatively lightweight coil would pick up deep rings and chains that other VLF detectors are simply not able to detect.
A HOARD OF SILVER COINS DETECTED IN QUEENSLAND
In late Nov. 2023 one of our customers used his MANTICORE detector + M15 coil to recover a hoard of more than 100 silver coins buried in a yard near the Gold Coast. He was impressed by the performance of the MANTICORE combined with the M15 coil, stating:
"Was located about 1.2 - 1.5m deep wouldn’t have found it without the 15 inch coil."
* * * UPDATE * * *
As of Monday 13 May 2024 - MINELAB have announced that a new (4th) coil will soon be available for the Manticore. It will be called the "M9" coil and will be a 9" round DD coil.
The Manticore M9 coil has a new special lightweight design and is the lightest coil in the MINELAB Manticore range of coils (weighing only 380 grams - which is lighter than the smaller M8 elliptical coil).
This coil has very good target separation in trashy environments, and it maintains great depth for its size. The low-profile and simple shape has been designed to cut through water with ease - with reduced drag within the water. It should be ideal for use when detecting whilst snorkeling, or during shallow scuba diving to less than Five-metres depth underwater.
* If you place an order with 'Gold Rat' - we will ship your new M9 coil as soon as they are sent to us from MINELAB !
