An avid metal detector enthusiast has made a significant discovery of an ancient Roman coin stash, two decades after starting his hobby. Steve Dean, accompanied by his friends Glenn Church and Ed Denovan, found around 400 coins in a farmer’s field near Maidstone, Kent.

These coins, estimated to be about 1,800 years old, are currently undergoing assessment by experts at the British Museum to determine their value. For Mr. Dean, a 68-year-old security team member at the University of Kent, this find fulfills a long-held aspiration after more than 20 years of metal detecting.

Both Mr. Church and Mr. Denovan, aged 69 and 70 respectively, share Mr. Dean’s excitement as they have never encountered such a valuable collection despite their long history in metal detecting. The trio discovered the coins scattered across the field during their search, eventually finding a substantial quantity of coins inside a damaged pot buried approximately 14 inches below the ground.

The scattered nature of the hoard suggests that the pot containing the coins was broken during field ploughing, leading to the coins being spread out in the area. Realizing the historical significance of their find, the group halted their excavation and sought assistance from professionals.

Archaeologists Dr. Andrew Richardson and Paul-Samuel Armour from Isle Heritage arrived promptly to excavate the coins, which were later transported to the British Museum for further examination. Mr. Dean expressed that the discovery indicates the presence of Romans in the area 1,800 years ago, hinting at possible historical significance.

The coins’ valuation by the British Museum could take up to two years, during which the Museum will have the first option to acquire the hoard. Any proceeds from the sale will be evenly split between the three detectorists and the landowner whose field yielded the remarkable discovery.