Month: August 2015

cross metal detectorist

800-year-old cross found by Welsh detectorist

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‘I nearly fainted with excitement’: Priceless 800-year-old silver and gold cross unearthed by Welsh detectorist. Malcolm Corfield found the precious medieval artefact buried 8in deep in the ground.

silver medieval cross

Malcolm Corfield, 63, nearly fainted with excitement when he found the priceless artefact.

The delighted detectorist had been using his XP Deus metal detector  when he unearthed the 30mm charm while scouring fields on the outskirts of Newport with his friends from Gwent Detecting Club.

detectorist xp deus metal detectorMalcolm Corfield with his XP Deus metal detector and  Draper Mini Shovel

 

The cross is in excellent condition. The Hebrew writing in its centre can still be read. When translated reads “Thou art mighty forever oh Lord”. In the Middle Ages it was used to combat fever.

Malcolm said: “You always live in the hope that you’ll find an exceptional item, but it was a slow day. I was drawing a blank. Then, there was a faint signal.

“I had goose bumps. I couldn’t believe what it was – it was the find of a life time!”

Source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/

Olive Jar gold coins hoard

Treasure hunter found £2.9 million in gold coins

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Treasure hunters have discovered a hoard of Spanish gold coins from the 18th century that are worth around £2.9m. The 350 coins have lied scattered on the Atlantic sea bed off the coast of Florida for the past 300 years.

 

The coins originate from a fleet of 11 Spanish galleons that sank during a hurricane while making the journey from Cuba to Spain. The discovery is the second major find in Florida in recent months. In June, treasure hunters found about 50 coins worth about $1m.

 

The 350 coins, which were brought to the surface at the end of July, turned up in just a metre of water close to the shore, buried under the sand. Under US state law, Florida will keep 20% of value of the find.

 

The diver who discovered the coins, William Bartlett, declined to say what his cut would be, telling a local newspaper: “I’m just a guy on a boat living the dream.” Brent Brisben, who owns the rights to the wrecked ships, says the find includes nine rare pieces known as “royal eight escudos”. Only 20 were known to be in existence before this latest find. “These royals are perfect specimens of coinage of the time and they were made on royal order for the king of Spain,” Mr Brisben said.

 

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/, http://www.tcpalm.com/

 

roman coins hoard leominster

Roman coin hoard found by metal detectorists in Leominster

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Leominster Roman coin hoard unearthed by a pair of Herefordshire metal detectorists. The British Museum has revealed a hoard of more than 500 Roman coins was found by two metal detector enthusiasts in a Herefordshire field. The 518 mixed copper coins, found near Leominster, had been placed in cloth bags and hidden in the ground in a leather satchel. Experts believe the coins were deliberately buried. The British Museum said it was very rare to find hoards so well-preserved.

roman coins hoard leominster

The hoard was found in July 2013 by paramedics and metal detector enthusiasts Jeremy Daw and Martin Fulloway. The news of the find has only just been made public by the British Museum. Mr Fulloway said four of the coins were stuck to a stone, while others were in the loose soil. Mr Daw said the coins were possibly buried during a time of unrest in the Roman empire. The earth was x-rayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and then examined by the British Museum. The coins range from from AD 260 to circa 290 and include eight coins of the Britannic Empire.

metal detectorists roman coin hoard

The hoard was declared treasure trove in June by the Hereford coroner and will now be valued by the British Museum. The value will then be shared with the two finders, landowner and Hereford and Leominster Museum.

metal detectorists found hoard

Peter Reavill, a finds officer for the British Museum, said that this is one of the best-preserved coin hoards I have seen. He said he hoped funds would be raised to keep the collection in the county.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

roman coins hoard leominster

Roman coin hoard found by metal detectorists in Leominster

Regton Detectors 2 Comments

Leominster Roman coin hoard unearthed by a pair of Herefordshire metal detectorists. The British Museum has revealed a hoard of more than 500 Roman coins was found by two metal detector enthusiasts in a Herefordshire field. The 518 mixed copper coins, found near Leominster, had been placed in cloth bags and hidden in the ground in a leather satchel. Experts believe the coins were deliberately buried. The British Museum said it was very rare to find hoards so well-preserved.

roman coins hoard leominster

The hoard was found in July 2013 by paramedics and metal detector enthusiasts Jeremy Daw and Martin Fulloway. The news of the find has only just been made public by the British Museum. Mr Fulloway said four of the coins were stuck to a stone, while others were in the loose soil. Mr Daw said the coins were possibly buried during a time of unrest in the Roman empire. The earth was x-rayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and then examined by the British Museum. The coins range from from AD 260 to circa 290 and include eight coins of the Britannic Empire.

metal detectorists roman coin hoard

The hoard was declared treasure trove in June by the Hereford coroner and will now be valued by the British Museum. The value will then be shared with the two finders, landowner and Hereford and Leominster Museum.

metal detectorists found hoard

Peter Reavill, a finds officer for the British Museum, said that this is one of the best-preserved coin hoards I have seen. He said he hoped funds would be raised to keep the collection in the county.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

Bronze Age knife unearthed on the Isle of Wight

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A couple of holidaymakers found a Bronze Age knife thought to be 3,000 years old on the Isle of Wight. Metal detectorist Christopher Preece, with his wife June, found a number of small metallic objects under a lump of clay on Sandown Beach. The couple, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, took the finds to a visitor centre where staff passed them on to experts. The copper alloy knife, most likely used as a leather working tool, has been dated to 800-1000BC. The couple also found a button from the 17th Century during their holiday last month.

bronze age knife

The knife and button are now on display at Newport Roman Villa.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/