WELCOME TO TREASURENET!!!
I'm gonna keep it simple. All you need is this:
1. Metal Detector
2. Something to dig with
Everything else which people will suggest here could very well make your head spin: Pinpointers, Lesches, Screwdrivers, Coin Probes, Nail Aprons, Finds Pouches, Sunray Probe, Extra Sniper Coil, 12 Inch Searchcoil, Google Earth, Old Maps, Battery Charger, Hip-Mount Apparatus...and the list goes on and on.
But here's the central fact: All you need are the two things I listed above. Everything else is preference. Some things will speed your recovery of items along, or help you find better sites, or save you a few bucks or some trouble in the long run...but it's all a matter of preference. You'll find your way, and you'll make your own choices as time goes by. Now get out there and get diggin!
-Buckleboy
P.S.--make your excavations as neat as possible so that you don't offend property owners or the parks maintenance crews if you'd like to start with yards or town parks.