A bathroom fitter in Leicestershire was in for a surprise after stumbling across a hoard of 50 Roman coins.
David Dunn, 42, decided to visit a field just 15 minutes’ walk from his house in Sapcote, Leicestershire in July, 2023.
After using a metal detector to search for a number of hours, he suddenly picked up sound signals, suggesting traces of metal under the soil.
He dug down and unearthed a Roman coin.
Before long, he’d found 50 coins spread out in a small area of the field.
Now, the ‘once in a lifetime’ haul – dating to the late third century – is set to go up for auction.
And experts predict Mr Dunn could be in line to receive an impressive £1,500 payout.
Alice Cullen, Noonans Coin Expert said: ‘This is a wonderful find of Antoninianus coins by David and we are very pleased to be selling them.’
A bathroom fitter in Leicestershire was in for a surprise after stumbling across a hoard of 50 Roman coins
The ‘once in a lifetime’ haul – dating to the late third century – is set to go up for auction
One of the coins has been identified as a new variety.
Mr Dunn said: ‘Something told me to go to the pasture field that I had visited numerous times and after a few hours searching I had a faint signal.
‘I then found a Roman coin and another with my pinpointer in the same hole.
‘I was so excited that I went to get the farmer and then after digging down to about 2ft, it then just snowballed from there over a 4m square area and we found 50 coins in total – who knows what would have happened if we continued digging further!’
‘I am not aware of any other finds in the field, but it is pretty close to another farm which contains a Roman Villa.
‘Many of the coins that I found were in really good condition with perfect portraits – it was a once in a lifetime find!’
The coins are being sold in one lot at Noonans Mayfair on February 18 in a sale of British and Ancient Coins.
They are expected to fetch between £1,200 and £1,500.
When asked how he would spend the money, Mr Dunn said: ‘I’m not sure of what to spend it on. ‘The money doesn’t interest me just finding history is what I love. The farmer has had a rough few years since Covid so I’d like to give him the majority of the money if it can help in any way’
Mr Dunn, who is married and a keen golfer, has been metal detecting for two years.
He took up the hobby as he was wanted to go out on his own into the fresh air after a long day working.
He took the coins in a briefcase to his local finds officer, who kept them for a year and offered them to various local museums.
After having them disclaimed and returned, he has decided to sell them.
When asked how he would spend the money, Mr Dunn said: ‘I’m not sure of what to spend it on.
‘The money doesn’t interest me just finding history is what I love. The farmer has had a rough few years since Covid so I’d like to give him the majority of the money if it can help in any way.’
Ms Cullen said: ‘The Antoninianus was a coin used during the Roman Empire thought to have been valued at two denarii.
‘This hoard dates from the reigns of Carausius who usurped power in 286 after the Carausian Revolt, and declared himself emperor in Britain and northern Gaul; Allectus, who died in 296 and was a Roman-Britannic usurper-emperor from 293 to 296; Diocletian, nicknamed Jovius, who was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305, and Maximian who reigned from 286 to 305, sharing the title of Augustus with his co-emperor and superior Diocletian.’
She added: ‘After talking with Dr Sam Moorhead, who until recently was the National Finds Adviser for Iron Age and Roman coins with the Portable Antiquities Scheme at the British Museum and the writer of the forthcoming updated Roman Imperial Coinage volume 5, the first coin in the hoard is going to be recorded in the new volume as a new variety which is very exciting!
‘This particular coin is from the reign of Carausius (286-293) and is decorated with a bust of Diocletian on one side and a standing woman on the other.’
