The UK is one of the best places in the world for metal detecting, with a rich history of various different people and many rich rulers losing gold and treasure all over the place. There have been more significant historical finds in the UK than any other country in Europe, with countless millions worth of treasure being unearthed everywhere from peoples back gardens to farm fields.
Here’s a few of the most valuable and significant metal detector finds ever to be un-earthed in the UK.
The Grouville Hoard – £14 million
In June of 2012 a couple of amateur detectors found a stash of around 50,000 Roman coins buried in a field. The discovery was made by Reg Mead and Richard Miles who are entitled to 50% of whatever the final selling price is. The coins are thought to be from between 50-60 BC and is one of the largest coin finds ever in the UK.
The Staffordshire Hoard – £3.3 million
Anyone who’s interested in metal detecting would most likely have heard of the Staffordshire hoard, as it is the largest find of Anglo-Saxon Gold and Silver ever to be found. It was discovered by Tony Herbert in July of 2009 when he was searching a local farmers field, though when the Birmingham Museum tried to buy the hoard, the finder and land owner fell out bitterly and engaged in legal action to acquire a larger share of the reward.
Galloway Hoard – £2 million
Derek McLennan was the lucky person who came across this stash of 10th century viking artifacts in 2014 after searching a field in Dumfries, Scotland. The National Museums Scotland bought the find for an undisclosed amount.
Hoxne Hoard – £1.8 million
This find is the largest stash of Roman gold and silver ever to be discovered in Britain. It was found in 1992 by Eric Lawes who was scanning some farmland near his home in Hoxne.
Lenborough Hoard – £1.4 million
Another one that was buried in a farmers field, discovered in 2007 by David Whelan when he was taking part in a metal detecting rally. The hoard consists of just over 5000 late Anglo-Saxon coins and was bought by a local museum.
The Stirling Torcs – 450K
These iron age torcs were found by amateur detectionist David Booth who found them in a field in Scotland, though he hasn’t publicly said where. The find was bought by the National Museum of Scotland and David received half of the agreed amount, with the other half going to the land owner.
Winchester hoard – 350K
A stash of iron age golden jewelry discovered in December of 2000 after retired florist Kevan Halls decided to search a newly ploughed farmers field. The collection was purchased by the British Museum and Halls received his half of 175k.
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