Rare Roman coin discovered by metal detector enthusiast sells for $6,080

A rare Roman coin, discovered by a metal detector enthusiast in a farmer's field, has been sold for an impressive $6,080 (£4,700) at auction after being identified as a significant historical find. The lucky finder, 76 year old Ron Walters, struck gold when he unearthed the nearly 2000 year old rare coin last May on land he had been exploring for six years in Wall Heath, UK.

A rare Roman coin, discovered by a metal detector enthusiast in a farmer's field, has been sold for an impressive $6,080 (£4,700) at auction.

The coin, which is believed to be the first aureus of Emperor Aulus Vitellius found in England, was unearthed last May in Wall Heath, Staffordshire.

It is one of a number of coins that are worth huge sums.

The coin, which dates back to 69 AD, was spotted by 76-year-old Ron Walters as he was searching for artifacts with his metal detector.

After its initial examination, the British Museum relinquished claim to the coin, allowing Ron to auction it off yesterday (Thurs) at Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge,

The proceeds from the sale will be shared with the landowner.

The coin sold for $6,080 (£4,700), which is a new record for a Vitellius aureus found in Britain.

The coin is in good condition for its age, with a clear image of Vitellius's head and the Roman goddess Livia on the obverse and reverse of the coin respectively.

The coin will now be sold to a private collector.

The coin is a significant historical find, as it is one of only a handful of Vitellius coins to be found in Britain.

It is also the earliest Roman coin to be found in Staffordshire.

The coin is a valuable piece of Roman history, and its sale is a testament to the enduring appeal of metal detecting as a hobby.

Speaking about the sale, Ron said: "I thought it might go for a bit more but it's been amazing to be part of a historic discovery and it's certainly something to tell the grandkids.

"I'm planning to continue my hobby of searching for hidden gems with my metal detector but the chances of finding such an extraordinary item again seem slim - experts have told me this was a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.

"I almost missed out on the finding as I didn't want to go on the Thursday and my wife urged me to leave the house for a bit.

"I was going to go one Thursday and decided against it and it was my wife who basically told me bugger off and get out the house for a bit.

"And I was glad I did. I was out for a couple of hours and I picked a signal up. I started digging a bit but then I lost the signal.

"I managed to get this reading again from a clod of earth about 2ft away from me, I broke it open and then this coin dropped into my hand.

"My heart was racing, I just popped it in my pocket and went straight back home."

Mark Hannam, senior coin specialist and auctioneer at Fieldings, described the coin as "a genuinely amazing find."

He added: "It’s a unique piece of history, which has brought together a metal detector enthusiast, a local farmer and a coin collector in Scotland.

"I am very pleased with the result, as the condition of soil and stone action had taken its toll a little, with the coin being in the ground for over 1,900 years.

"There was lots of pre-sale interest and bidding was brisk, quickly reaching the level.

"The coin has gone to its new home with a collector in Scotland and I am pleased that it has remained in the UK.

"To find a coin from AD69 is incredibly rare, as most coins we find in this country are from the third and fourth centuries, and we are talking about a time when the gold was at its purest level."

Vitellius, a Roman emperor, held power during a chaotic eight-month period in 69 AD, a year famously known as the "Year of the Four Emperors."

He came to power after Emperor Otho's defeat in a civil war among rival contenders for the imperial throne.

Vitellius's reign was marked by his lavish spending and love for luxury, which was evident in the extravagant feasts he hosted and his overall lifestyle.

However, this starkly contrasted with the growing instability within the empire and the urgent need to restore moral and administrative order, which many Romans expected of the emperor.

Vitellius made little effort to undertake such tasks, and his rule was met with widespread disapproval among many Romans.