It is believed to be the first gold coin minted by Allectus to be found in over fifty years. The Museum was able to authenticate the coin by comparing it to the one in its own possession that was found in the 1800s near Silchester, in Hampshire. Artnet reports that “the sole other example cast from the same dyes belongs to the British Museum”. It is only one of only two dozen that are known to exist. ![]() The British Museum identified that it was a 1700-year-old Roman aureus that shows the face of a Roman ruler Allectus. What the experts revealed to the detectorist was beyond his wildest dreams. Rare Roman gold discovered in Kent, England Credit: Dix Noonan Webb Rare Roman Coin Then he had it appraised at the British Museum in nearby London. He brought his find to the attention of the authorities as required by law. Initially, he and his brother thought they had a gold sovereign, a coin from relatively modern times. The Antiques Gazette quotes the anonymous detectorist as stating that “at first we found bits of old tractors and shotgun cartridges, but after 45 minutes I found the coin”. The treasure hunter, who wishes to remain anonymous, had secured the owner's permission to investigate the land, which is near an old Roman Road. ![]() The exact location of the find has not been stated, but it was near Dover, in the English County of Kent.ĭix Noonan Webb announced that the find was made by a 30-year-old amateur metal detectorist, who has followed the pursuit for seven years, while he was searching some tilled farmland with his brother. It is the most money ever paid for a coin depicting Allectus and the most valuable Roman coin minted in Britain to have been sold at auction. The gold coin is very rare, and this set off a bidding war that smashed the auctioneer's estimate for the piece and set new records, finally being sold for £552,000 (US$700,000). A rare 1700-year-old coin depicting Roman ruler Allectus found by an amateur metal detectorist in a field in Kent, England, has been sold for a staggering price in the UK.
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