🖊️ 8—Detectorist Legends

TREASURES

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✩ Legendary Treasures ✩

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Metal Detecting, 8 Finds, $31 Million+

Hidden Treasures Found in Everyday Places

Some of the most astonishing treasures are buried—they’re 'hidden' in farmers' fields and remote pastures. News reports reveal remarkable discoveries—from rare antiques to valuable art and collectibles. By exploring the map, you can see how different treasure eras, styles, and locations have shaped these surprising finds.

A few legendary examples from the list below include:

$800,000 for a rare penny
$2 Million for a historic helmet
$7 Million for a rare antique pendant

Often overlooked for years, these surprising finds reveal how valuable treasures can be hidden just below our feet. Explore the full list below the ad ☟

Vintage treasure-hunt advertising in retro cityscape.

8—Legendary Finds:

1. Bogland Treasure—$7 Million Irish Chalice Found in Monastic Ruin

📰 📅 Ongoing Report: In 1980, in Ireland, a priceless 8th-century treasure—the Derrynaflan Chalice—was unearthed by a father and son near Killenaule, County Tipperary. Estimated at over £5 million ($6.3M USD) and reportedly valued as high as $7 million, the hoard was discovered with a metal detector at a bog-surrounded monastic ruin. The find prompted major legal reform and remains one of Ireland’s most valuable cultural treasures. Full story, resource links, and images ☟

Story, resource links, and images: 🔗 Wikipedia

2. Tudor Treasure—$7 Million Potential for Pendant Linked to King, Found by Café Owner

📽️ 📅 2023 Report: A café owner in the UK made a remarkable discovery while metal detecting—a priceless Tudor gold pendant linked to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. This find, compared to Ireland’s famous 8th-century Derrynaflan Chalice, valued at $7 million, underscores the global allure and historical significance of treasure hunting. Full story in a two-minute video.

Video: 🔗 ABC News / YouTube

3. Norman Conquest Hoard—£4.3M ($5.5 Million) for 2,584 Silver Pennies Found in Field

📽️ 📅 2024 Report: A hoard of 2,584 silver pennies from the time of the Norman Conquest was unearthed in 2019 by metal detectorists in Somerset, UK. Valued at £4.3M (about $5.5 million), the hoard was recently sold to a heritage trust, making it the highest-value treasure ever found in the UK. The hoard includes rare coins of Harold II and William the Conqueror. The proceeds were split between the finders and the landowner. Full story and discovery footage posted in a short video.

Video: 🔗 BBC / YouTube

4. Celtic Coin Cache—£4.25M ($5.4 Million) for 69,347 Ancient Coins Found Under Hedge

📰 📽️ 📅 2021 Report: In Grouville, Jersey, two metal detectorists uncovered 69,347 ancient Celtic coins in 2012. Believed to have been buried by the Coriosolitae tribe fleeing Caesar’s forces, the 2,000-year-old coins were found under a hedge. Sold for £4.25 million (about $5.4 million in 2024), the hoard is considered one of the largest of its kind. Proceeds were reportedly split between the finders and the landowner after covering excavation and other costs.

Story, video, and images: 🔗 Daily Mail

5. Helmet Hoard—£2.3 Million ($2.9 Million) for Rare Roman Find in Field

📰 📅 2010 Report: A rare Roman bronze helmet from the late 1st century AD, found in a field in Crosby Garrett, Cumbria, UK, by a young metal detecting enthusiast, sold for £2.3 million (approximately $2.9 million) at auction. Originally estimated to fetch £300,000 (about $380,000), the helmet's auction sparked a bidding war, ultimately selling for over seven times its expected price. Discovered during a routine search, the helmet is one of only three of its kind found in Britain, emphasizing its rarity and historical significance.

Story and images: 🔗 Daily Mail

6. Hammer Hoard—Millions in Treasure Discovered While Searching for Tool

📰 📅 Ongoing Report: In 1992, while searching for a lost hammer in a Suffolk field with a metal detector, a man discovered the Hoxne Hoard—a Roman treasure valued at £1.7 million ($2.2 million in 2024). Dating from the 4th to 5th century, the hoard contained over 15,000 gold and silver coins, along with numerous precious artifacts.

Story, resource links, and images: 🔗 Wikipedia

7. Golden Giant—$1 Million for Metal-Detected Nugget in Australian Field

📰 📅 Ongoing Report: In 1980, in Kingower, Victoria, Australia, a man using a metal detector discovered the largest gold nugget ever found with such a device—nicknamed the 'Hand of Faith'. Weighing 875 troy ounces (27.21 kg / 60 lbs), it was buried just 12 inches underground. Sold for over $1 million (USD), it was later put on public display in Las Vegas.

Story, resource links, and image: 🔗 Wikipedia

8. Field Find Fortune—$807,864 (£648,000) for Rare Gold Penny Unearthed in the UK

📰 📽️ 📅 2025 Report: A rare Henry III gold penny, found by a metal detectorist on farmland near Hemyock, Devon, UK, sold for a record £648,000 ($807,864) at an auction in London. Only eight of these 13th-century coins are known to exist, with six in public collections.

Story, image, and video: 🔗 CoinWeek

These inspiring discoveries reveal the untapped potential of everyday spaces as hidden treasure troves. Explore the top 40 finds below the ad ☟

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