Metal detectorist strikes gold after 20 years of searching the same field - discovering a rare Roman coin which could be worth £6,000

Paul Capewell, 59, was heading back to his car after another session on land in Little Grandsen, Cambs., when he heard the telltale beep.

A metal detectorist has struck gold after 20 years of searching the same field - discovering a rare Roman coin which could be worth £6,000.

Paul Capewell, 59, was heading back to his car after another session on land in Little Grandsen, Cambs., when he heard the telltale beep.

He dug down and unearthed a Roman coin - which he initially did not realise the significance of.

It was only when Paul, from Selston, Notts., showed photographs to a coin dealer he was informed he had found something valuable.

Paul learnt that the coin - a denarius - had been issued by Emperor Trajan back in 107 AD, after he had recalled all the worn Republican coins from circulation.

There have only been two examples of this specific coin type recorded for sale in the last 25 years, auctioneers Noonans said.

In fact, the coin is so unique that it is estimated to fetch between £5,000 and £6,000 in a Mayfair auction on October 22.

Paul, who used to work in the building trade, will split the proceeds from the sale with the field's landowner.

He plans to spend his half on either a new metal detector - or by putting it towards surgery he needs after suffering a heart attack.

Paul said: “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 dates back to 107 AD and was issued by Roman Emperor Trajan.

Its design features the goddess of money Juno Moneta on one side - and pincers, hammers, and dies for striking coins on the other side.

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!”