Yes, that's what I mean by longitudinal. A nail creates a double beep because it has a maximum return signal when the coil's magnetic field aligns with it. Here is an illustration The arrows show the direction of the coil sweep. The magnetic field bends outward and the nail will have a maximum response at points (a) & (c), while minimum at (b). A coin is the opposite; it will have a maximum response at (b). So imagine a nail at (a) and a coin at (b); as the coil sweeps over t