David Dunn, a 42-year-old bathroom fitter, recently used his metal detector in a pasture in Leicester, England. Dunn picked up a faint signal on his metal detector during his time here, which led to a “once-in-a-lifetime” discovery.
Initially, Dunn unearthed two Roman coins from the ground. A nearby farmer helped him dig further beneath the ground after the discovery. Dunn and the farmer found a collection of fifty Roman coins. “Something told me to go to that field. I wasn’t expecting much, but then it just snowballed from there,” Dunn told Leicester Live. The collection consists of antoninianus coins used during the Roman Empire. These coins date back to the third century, and many are “in remarkable condition, with perfect portraits,” Dunn said.
After the discovery, Dunn brought the coins to a local finds officer. The coins were offered to museums but went unclaimed and were returned to Dunn.
Dunn will auction the collection of coins on February 18, 2025. The estimated collection value ranges from approximately $1,500 to $1,900.
At this point, Dunn is not concerned about how much he will earn from the auction. He plans to give most of the money from the auction to the farmer who helped him recover the coins. “The money doesn’t interest me,” Dunn noted. “I love finding history. The farmer has had a tough few years since Covid, so I’d like to give him most of it if it can help in any way.”
The WorthPoint Price Guide contains over 12,000 Roman antoninianus coins. Take a look.
Dan Kobialka is a self-employed content writer and editor with about a decade of experience. He produces content across a wide range of industries, including antiques, insurance, and real estate. To learn more about Dan, please visit his website.
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