Novice finds Roman Gold Coin Hoard

In October 2012, a novice treasure hunter who bought a basic metal detector returned to the shop in Hertfordshire weeks later, clutching part of Englands' finest ever hoard of late Roman gold coins. The man stunned staff by showing them 40 gold solidi, before asking: 'What do I do with this?' They contacted local experts and together got the permits they needed, headed back to the scene and pulled up another 119 gleaming pieces.

"The man had bought a Garrett Ace 150, retailing at around £135 and described as "the ideal metal detector for parent-child expeditions or for adults interested in exploring a potential hobby". Wesley Carrington took his new metal detector out into a field near St. Albans in Hertfordshire, England. After finding a spoon and then a half penny, Carrington's machine beeped a third time, and he dug seven inches down to uncover a coin that was gold in color with a Roman figure on it.

Local heritage officials described the hoard as 'a nationally significant find.' The coins are a rare example of the solidus, dating from the last days of Roman rule in Britain. The last consignments of them reached these shores in 408AD.

The coin was an ancient Roman solidus, and there were 158 more buried with it, a hoard with an estimated worth of 100,000 pounds sterling. "It is certainly the most spectacular find," Julian Watters, the finds liaison officer for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. "Just to put it in context, I had only previously seen four Roman gold coins out of 50,000 finds."

A large sapphire ring found by metal detector enthusiast Michael Greenhorn in a field near Escrick, England is thought to have originated in the 5th or 6th century and may have even belonged to a king. Greenhorn sold the ring to the Yorkshire Museum for $50,000.