Huge hoard of Roman coins ruled treasure

FROME, England, July 23 (UPI) -- A British coroner has ruled a hoard of more than 50,000 Roman coins found in a field in southwestern England is treasure trove.

The ruling Thursday is expected to result in a big payday for Dave Crisp, the grandfather armed with a metal detector who discovered the coins, and for the owner of the field, The Guardian reported. The value of the coins, 52,500 dating from the 3rd century, is estimated at about one million pounds ($1.5 million).

Crisp, 63, a chef with the National Health Service, said he plans to continue working until his retirement next year. He joked he might buy a new wok.

"I'm over the moon," he said. "The money doesn't really matter. Obviously it's nice, but the significant thing for me is that I am the person who has made this discovery."

Archaeologists believe the coins were buried by farmers as an offering for good harvests, the report said. Roger Bland of the British Museum testified at the hearing that it was the biggest group of coins in one pot ever found in Britain.

Crisp told the coroner he found a scattering of coins in the field near Frome in Somerset earlier and decided to give the area another sweep. On April 11, his detector gave a "funny signal" just before he found the trove.