coinman123
Silver Member
One of the most hated metal detecting finds there is can still help you find out the age of your site anyways, heres a list of cans and pull tabs and the years they were made.
Flat top cans: These and cone top cans were the first. These were made from 1935-1961 (replaced by pull tab) these cans were opened with a special can opener called a churchkey that leaves two cut triangles on the front.
Steel cans: Usually rust easy, are found in horrible shape most of the time, perfect cylinder with aluminum top, 1935-1980. These cans stick to magnets.
Aluminum cans: Replaced the steel cans that tended to rust and were more expensive to make. Side usually tapers off towards the top unlike steel cans which are perfect cylinders. 1980's to present.
Cone top cans: 1935-1960, used in smaller beverage companies. The shorter the top the older the can is. These cans have a large pointed top which is opened by a bottle cap.
Pull tab cans: 1962-1980 (ish)
Zip top pull tabs: 1962-1964, the first type of pull tab used, if you find these you may find some silver.
Ring pull tabs: 1965-1980ish, replaced zip tops which were likely to cut people, discontinued to fight litter, plus, people would step on them and get cut.
Push button: Mid 70's, two little buttons on top of can, mean't to replace the pull tabs and fight litter
Stay-tabs (current style that stays on can), 1980-now. The current round design of stay tab dates from the '90s, most were square shaped in the 1980s.
Sorry for any typos, sent from my phone
Flat top cans: These and cone top cans were the first. These were made from 1935-1961 (replaced by pull tab) these cans were opened with a special can opener called a churchkey that leaves two cut triangles on the front.
Steel cans: Usually rust easy, are found in horrible shape most of the time, perfect cylinder with aluminum top, 1935-1980. These cans stick to magnets.
Aluminum cans: Replaced the steel cans that tended to rust and were more expensive to make. Side usually tapers off towards the top unlike steel cans which are perfect cylinders. 1980's to present.
Cone top cans: 1935-1960, used in smaller beverage companies. The shorter the top the older the can is. These cans have a large pointed top which is opened by a bottle cap.
Pull tab cans: 1962-1980 (ish)
Zip top pull tabs: 1962-1964, the first type of pull tab used, if you find these you may find some silver.
Ring pull tabs: 1965-1980ish, replaced zip tops which were likely to cut people, discontinued to fight litter, plus, people would step on them and get cut.
Push button: Mid 70's, two little buttons on top of can, mean't to replace the pull tabs and fight litter
Stay-tabs (current style that stays on can), 1980-now. The current round design of stay tab dates from the '90s, most were square shaped in the 1980s.
Sorry for any typos, sent from my phone
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