Metal detectorist Paul Capewell hits jackpot after two decades of scouring the same field

Paul Capewell unearthed a rare Roman coin that could fetch a whopping £6,000. The 59-year-old was about to pack up his gear in Little Grandsen, Cambs

A metal detectorist has hit the jackpot after two decades of scouring the same field. Paul Capewell unearthed a rare Roman coin that could fetch a whopping £6,000.

The 59-year-old was about to pack up his gear in Little Grandsen, Cambs, when his trusty metal detector suddenly beeped, leading him to dig up the ancient relic.

Initially, Paul didn't grasp the significance of his find, but after showing photos to a coin dealer, he discovered he had stumbled upon a denarius issued by Emperor Trajan in 107 AD.

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This particular coin is extremely rare, with only two similar examples sold in the last 25 years, according to auctioneers Noonans.

The coin is set to go under the hammer in a Mayfair auction on October 22, with Paul planning to split the proceeds with the landowner and use his share to either upgrade his metal detector or fund much-needed surgery following a heart attack.

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Paul recounted the moment of discovery, saying: "Using my Equinox 800 metal detector, I only found a few shotgun cartridges, so I decided to return to my car parked at the side of the field.

"Just five metres away from the car, I got a signal and at a depth of 8 inches, I found a silver Roman coin.

"I did not realise just how rare the coin was until I showed photographs to a coin dealer, and it has now been recorded with the portable Antiquities Scheme.

"I have been visiting the same field for more that 20 years and have discovered a few Roman and Medieval coins - but this is my most exciting find so far."

The coin hails from 107 AD and was minted under the reign of Roman Emperor Trajan.

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It boasts an image of the goddess of money, Juno Moneta, on one side - and tools used for minting coins on the other.

Nigel Mills, Coins and Artefacts Specialist at Noonans said: "The coin was issued by the Emperor Trajan in AD 107 after he had recalled all the worn Republican coins from circulation.

"Only two examples of this specific type have been recorded for sale in the last 25 years.

"Some of the coins in circulation dated back over 300 years and they provided a historical record of the achievements of the Roman Empire.

"Trajan issued a limited number of coins which recalled some of the events from the past.

"This coin uses the same imagery as an issue by the moneyer Titus Carisius in 46 BC.

"Titus was an ally of Julius Caesar, and this design features a bust of Juno Moneta on the obverse, with pincers, hammer and dies for striking coins on the reverse. A coin showing how a coin is made."

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