A treasure hunter has unearthed a haul of ancient gold coins, thought to have been buried with an Anglo-Saxon King nearly 1,500 years ago.
Chris Kutler, 54, stumbled upon the coins after spending four days searching a 1,600 sq metre field in Chelmsford, Essex.
The hoard has now been sent to the British Museum for analysis and valuation, but it's thought they could be worth up to £10,000 ($13,000).
A treasure hunter has unearthed a haul of ancient gold coins, thought to have been buried with an Anglo-Saxon King nearly 1,500 year ago
THE COINS
The coins are from the Dark Ages, around 620-640AD, and are classed as a hoard, which is usually associated with high status, or even Royal burials.
The coins, called Tremissis, that Mr Kutler found earlier this month and nearly twenty years ago were used by the Merovingians who ruled over what we know as France today, and also beyond towards Saxony.
According to law, treasure is 'two or more coins from the same find, at least 300 years old, and contain at least 10 per cent gold.'
Mr Kutler said: 'It is kind of the Holy Grail of metal detectoring. It was an incredible feeling to find the coins.
'When I found the first, I thought it was a wasp.
'I got a flash of yellow and threw it back but then I realised what it was.
'It was the best feeling in the world, especially after four days of hard work.'
Mr Kutler, who has been metal detectoring for more than 25 years, also found rare Anglo-Saxon coins at the same site 18 years ago, which are now housed at the British Museum.
He chose to go back after reading an article which suggested more coins would be still in the ground.
The coins are significantly smaller than those that we use today, and are from the Dark Ages, around 620-640AD
Mr Kutler said: 'I decided to rake the top soil off and get down to the compact soil [underneath], and scanned the area off in 100 square metres, and did every one individually.
'I thought I really need to do it because this is the last time I am going to do it. I needed to go back.
'I have already been back and searched the area thoroughly and nothing has come up.'
'I thought I really need to do it because this is the last time I am going to do it. I needed to go back.
'I have already been back and searched the area thoroughly and nothing has come up.'
The coins are classed as a hoard, which is usually associated with high status, or even Royal burials
Chris Kutler, 54, stumbled upon the coins after spending four days searching a 1,600 sq metre field in Chelmsford, Essex
The coins are from the Dark Ages, around 620-640AD, and are classed as a hoard, which is usually associated with high status, or even Royal burials.
Mr Kutler said: 'I started collected data about place names, I would locate the name of the place, and field names often indicate archaeological activity.
'If you find one coin there are probably many.'
Mr Kutler said: 'I started collected data about place names, I would locate the name of the place, and field names often indicate archaeological activity.
'If you find one coin there are probably many.'
Mr Kutler said: 'I started collected data about place names, I would locate the name of the place, and field names often indicate archaeological activity. If you find one coin there are probably many'
The coins, called Tremissis, that Mr Kutler found earlier this month and nearly twenty years ago were used by the Merovingians who ruled over what we know as France today, and also beyond towards Saxony
The coins, called Tremissis, that Mr Kutler found earlier this month and nearly twenty years ago were used by the Merovingians who ruled over what we know as France today, and also beyond towards Saxony.
According to law, treasure is 'two or more coins from the same find, at least 300 years old, and contain at least 10 per cent gold.'
It will take up to a year for the British Museum to complete their assessment of the coins.
According to law, treasure is 'two or more coins from the same find, at least 300 years old, and contain at least 10 per cent gold.'
It will take up to a year for the British Museum to complete their assessment of the coins.
Mr Kutler stumbled upon the coins after spending four days searching a 1,600 sq metre field in Chelmsford, Essex
ANGLO SAXON CEMETERY FOUND IN WILTSHIRE
Last year, archaeologists unearthed a cemetery of about 150 graves holding beautiful grave goods, including an intricate comb, jewellery, a 'sewing box' and intriguing shells in Bulford, Wiltshire in April.
There were also indications the site has been of spiritual significance for 5,000 years with collections of Neolithic goods suggesting it may also have been an important burial site for Stone Age man.
There were also indications the site has been of spiritual significance for 5,000 years with collections of Neolithic goods suggesting it may also have been an important burial site for Stone Age man.
Last year, archaeologists unearthed a cemetery of about 150 graves holding beautiful grave goods, including an intricate comb, jewellery, a 'sewing box' and intriguing shells in Bulford, Wiltshire in April
Experts at Wessex Archaeology excavated the site, earmarked for 227 new Army family homes. It is around four miles from the famous Stonehenge circle.
Investigations revealed 150 graves from the mid-Anglo-Saxon period in England, with one grave dated to between AD 660 and 780.
This grave held the remains of an Anglo Saxon woman who died in her mid to late 20s and was laid to rest with two boxes and a cowrie shell.
Investigations revealed 150 graves from the mid-Anglo-Saxon period in England, with one grave dated to between AD 660 and 780.
This grave held the remains of an Anglo Saxon woman who died in her mid to late 20s and was laid to rest with two boxes and a cowrie shell.
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