Edward III coins from field could fetch £15k

A METAL detectorist couple unearthed five rare 14th century gold coins from the reign of Edward III in a field that could fetch up to £15,000 at auction next week.

Phil Castle, 71, and wife Joan, 70, found the five pieces, still in immaculate condition, in a ploughed field near their home in New Romney, Kent.

The couple have been metal detecting together for more than 30 years and were ploughing one of their favourite fields at nearby Romney Marsh when they made the find in October 2018.

The coins from the reign of King Edward III are 1.3in in diameter and on one side show the Plantagenet monarch in a ship holding a sword and shield, while the other side has the royal cross.

During their heyday these coins were the highest denomination in circulation, with a face value of 6 shillings and 8 pence, which is about £2,500 per coin in today’s money, experts said.

Mrs Castle initially found a broken gold coin on the surface of the soil, then another signal from the metal detector next to it revealed a 14th century brass purse bar.

Mr Castle said: “We had no idea what the coins were when we found them. At the time, I was having chemo for leukaemia so detecting was a great relief.”

The purse and coins are expected to fetch between £12,000 and £15,000 at auction at Noonan’s in Mayfair on Tuesday.

The find has been disclaimed under the Treasure Act and will be the subject of an inquest to decide if it should go to a museum.