Rare coins have become the talk of the town in recent months, with enthusiasts and collectors buzzing over their unexpected value.
A revelation on TikTok by @CoinCollectingWizard left rare coin collectors astounded as an old penny was valued at a staggering £150,000.
In another instance, a “very rare” coin with a new “error” caught the attention of eagle-eyed collectors.
However, it’s not just the digital world that’s witnessing these extraordinary finds as one dedicated metal detectorist hit the jackpot after 20 years of searching the same area.
Paul Capewell’s persistence paid off spectacularly during what seemed to be another uneventful hunt in Little Grandsen, Cambs.
As he headed back to his car, the 59-year-old from Selston, Notts., was stunned to unearth an ancient Roman coin worth an impressive £6,000.
The discovery was made when his reliable metal detector signalled him to dig, leading to a find that would rewrite his treasure-hunting story.
It was only after showing pictures of the coin to an expert that Paul realised its significant value.
The coin, identified as a denarius, hails from the era of Emperor Trajan around 107 AD. It was part of the emperor’s initiative to replace outdated Republican currency with new, shiny coins.
This particular denarius is so scarce that auction house Noonans has noted only a handful have surfaced in the market in the last 25 years, making Paul’s find a truly exceptional piece of history.
The upcoming Mayfair auction on October 22 is set to buzz with excitement over a unique coin find, expected to fetch between £5,000 and £6,000. Paul, formerly in building construction, intends to split the proceeds with the landowner where he unearthed the Roman treasure.
After surviving a heart attack, Paul considers using his share for a new metal detecting tool or possibly essential surgery. Reflecting on his remarkable discovery, he 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.”
Speaking further about the find that trumps his two decades of searching, Paul added: “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 ancient coin, dating back to 107 AD and minted under Emperor Trajan, boasts a depiction of Juno Moneta, the goddess associated with money, as well as imagery of minting tools on its surface.
Nigel Mills, Coins and Artefacts Specialist at Noonans, exclaimed: “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!”
