Metal Detectorists' Roman Coin Hoard Valued at $400,000

A first-time metal detectorist who had been persuaded to try his hand at field searching by a relative who had been detecting since boyhood has been rewarded with a find valued at more than $400,000.

The finder, Kevin Elliott, stumbled upon the largest hoard of Roman coins ever discovered in Britain -- 9,213 silver denarii -- just moments after using a spare metal detector given to him by his cousin Martin.

According to the London Sunday Times, the hoard was declared treasure trove at an in inquest with proceeds estimated at 265,000 pound sterling. The hoard contained coins as early as 32 BC, the time of Mark Antony, to 224 AD, the reign of Severus Alexander.

The pair discovered the coins just inches below the surface of the soil. Extracting the coins quickly filled their pockets and the two resorted to buckets to hold the voluminous hoard.

Read the Sunday Times article by clicking UK Hoard.