Wiltshire metal detectorist found pile of coins worth £200,000

Tony House found a hoard of 570 Tealby Pennies, named after more than 5,000 were previously discovered in the Lincolnshire town of the same name in 1807.

The 865-year-old coins are thought to have been produced from 1158 to 1180 and are known for being some of the worst currency ever produced in the UK - badly-made and difficult to read.

But today, the coins can sell for more than £350 online, so Tony's hoard could be worth up to 200 grand.

The 68-year-old, who lives in Chippenham with his 63-year-old wife Beverley, said: "It's wonderful and so fascinating!

''It's a unique find, and that's very exciting. I was just 40 seconds from my van when I got the signal.

''It was a hot day. One spadeful I dug up had 35 coins in it, and I found 130 in one square metre.

"Just two metres from that was over a hundred in another square metre."

Tony found the haul during a dig near Chippenham, where he spent hours scanning a field last April and was about to give up when he heard a beep.

He then dug down and found a lucky old penny. A sixth sense urged him to keep hunting.

Tony took up detectoring about eight years ago after having a tough time.

The granddad loves to walk the fields with his flask of tea, but never thought he'd have a find like this.

He added: "It’s very calming to have those headphones on waiting for that signal. Time flies by. It’s so good for your mind.

"I never imagined I'd find something like this. No detectorist ever thinks they will. It's fantastic!"

Tony House metal detecting (Image: SWNS)

The coins in Tony's hoard apparently date from the reign of King Henry II, and feature small crosses on the back. Two gold Islamic coins in the hoard - called Denar - may link it to the Crusades, and there are six rings and a broach.

Gareth Williams is the curator of early medieval coins at the British Museum, where the find is being catalogued.

He said: "It is an important discovery, and has the potential to provide new information for our understanding of coinage, hoarding, and the economy in the late 12th century.

"Although several smaller hoards have been found since the Tealby hoard, the new hoard is the largest of this period to be found in England since 1807.

"Tealby pennies are notorious as some of the most badly-produced and difficult coins to read.

"It is already clear that not all of the coins in this hoard are completely legible.

"The two gold coins in the hoard are very unusual in an English find of the 12th century.

"Gold coins were not being produced in England, or in most of Europe during this period.

"This hoard is the first to reflect that it was quite common for wealthy individuals to possess a large number of English silver pennies together with just one or two imported Byzantine or Islamic gold coins.

"The hoard is also unusual for this period because it contains items of jewellery as well as coins."

Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer Sophie Hawke said: "It was so exciting to see the hoard and wonder who buried it and why, all that time ago!

"I love my job - I never know what will be found next, and this hoard is yet another amazing archaeological find from Wiltshire made by a member of the public."

Tony House (Image: SWNS)