There are several different ways you can search the database, depending on your needs. These are summarised below.

1. Search by Keyword(s)
From the home page, this is accessible via the white bar in the pictorial strip below the header. The default is set to 'All words in any order', so if you enter 'Edward 1a penny', for example, all Edward I class 1a pennies will be returned, but so will Edward I Withers Type 1a halfpennies and Edward II class 11a pennies, etc. To narrow the search to Edward I class 1a pennies alone, you would need to add further criteria (e.g. the Spink number '1380' or the issue date, '1279'). The light green bar adjoining the white bar is a drop-down menu that allows you to search a particular category or sub-category on the database.

2. Search by Record Number
From the home page this is accessible via a box on the right-hand side bar entitled 'Record number look-up'. Simply enter the UKDFD number of the record you are seeking and click the 'Search' button.

3. Search by Distance
This search is also accessible via a box on the right-hand side bar on the home page. The box is entitled  'Search by Distance' and will search within the selected radius of any chosen location in the UK. The results are displayed on a map with a list of the records below. Clicking on any single record marker on the map will bring up a thumbnail image of the particular record. This in turn can be clicked to display full details of the record.

4. Use the Search Page
The main search page is accessed by clicking the 'Search' link in the header of any page. This page has options for simple or advanced searches to be performed on 'Artefacts', 'Coins' or 'Records awaiting validation'. The various detailed fields make it possible to limit results to very specific search criteria.

5. Search on Map
The 'Search on Map' feature is also accessed by clicking the link of that name in the header of any page. Searches can be used to identify findspots across the whole UK, or any part of, it by adjusting the size and position of the map. The search defaults to finding all records on the database, so it is usually necessary to identify the type of coin or artefact sought, by using the accompanying keyword search box. The system limits the number of records displayed to a few hundred and warns when the limit has been exceeded.