Treasure hunter’s joy over son’s chance to ‘look history in face’
A YORKSHIREMAN has spoken of his joy at finding a medieval gem which allowed his son to “look history in the face” while out metal-detecting.
Andy Firth, an emergency medical technician for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, found the gold ring brooch – believed to date back to the 13th or 14th century – while on fields near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, with his “carbon copy” son Ryan, 10.
Mr Firth, 50, who lives in Guiseley, Leeds, has been metaldetecting for 40 years and his son has also caught the bug.
On one outing, the youngster was desperate to find a “hammered” – coins that were minted in medieval times, made by hammering the them between two dies.
As the pair scanned the field, Ryan came upon a piece of white lead – which can indicate medieval activity.
Mr Firth’s machine then began to sound, and he saw gold on the surface.
He said: “I really wish you could bottle that feeling, made even better that my son was there to share the moment.
“This is my best find to date, not because of the value but because of the sheer beauty of the brooch. I have looked long and hard at it and I can not for the life of me fathom how a goldsmith 700 years ago was able to create such beauty on such a small object; they were true craftsmen.
He added: “I have total respect for them.”
Before the day was out, Ryan even discovered his first hammered coin.
Mr Firth said: “As for me, I was walking around in a dream state for the rest of the day, not really concentrating, just pondering on who had lost such a beautiful relic, hoping that he or she wasn’t too upset at losing it.
“I am sure Ryan will never forget that day either, the day he got to look history in the face, and hopefully start him off on his own adventure in metal-detecting.”
The find will be auctioned tomorrow, with its value estimated at £6,000 to £8,000.