In an incredible stroke of luck, George Ridgway, a 34-year-old metal detectorist, uncovered an astonishing hoard of Roman and Iron Age gold and silver coins while scanning a recently harvested barley field near Helmingham Hall, Suffolk. The collection, featuring 748 coins, has made headlines after selling for £132,865 at Noonans Mayfair auction in London on September 18, 2024.
The Discovery of a Lifetime
The journey began in September 2019 when Ridgway, armed with his Garrett AT Pro, set out to investigate a peculiar crop mark in the field, hoping it might be related to an old Roman road. Initially, things weren’t looking promising—just a couple of signals, yielding bits of wire and shotgun cartridges. However, persistence paid off.
Just 30 yards away from where he had started, Ridgway’s detector picked up a stronger signal, which led to the discovery of two Roman brooches from the mid-1st century A.D.. Excited by the find, he pressed on, and within hours, he had uncovered a silver denarius issued by none other than Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. But that was only the beginning.
Over the next three hours, Ridgway unearthed 160 Roman silver coins, many of them stuck to fragments of pottery. Realizing the enormity of his find, Ridgway immediately called his father to guard the site overnight while he contacted an archaeological team to excavate the area. It took three months to fully recover the hoard.
A Hoard of Historical Significance
Among the 748 coins discovered were Iron Age gold coins of Cunobelin, the King of the Catuvellauni and Trinovantes tribes, dating as far back as 206 B.C. The hoard stretches through time to the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius in 46-47 A.D. According to Alice Cullen, a coin specialist at Noonans, the collection is one of the largest hoards found in Britain to contain both Iron Age and Roman coins. She noted that many of the coins were in “virtually as-struck condition.”
The Auction and its Success
The collection, initially estimated to sell for £75,000, exceeded expectations by bringing in a total of £132,865. Sixty-three of the most historically significant coins were claimed by the British Museum and the Colchester & Ipswich Museum for their collections.
The rest of the haul went under the hammer at Noonans Mayfair, with the proceeds being split between Ridgway and the landowner of Helmingham Hall. When asked about how he would spend the money, Ridgway jokingly replied, “I would like to buy my dad a pint!”—a well-deserved treat for the man who helped guard the treasure overnight.
This stunning find was inspired by Ridgway’s childhood hero, Indiana Jones, and a love for history that began when his grandmother gifted him a metal detector for his 12th birthday. His discovery of a Roman hoard, something many detectorists only dream of, has certainly cemented his place in the history books.
Who else was inspired by Indiana Jones? It was in fact Indiana Jones that got me interested in history and metal detecting, hopefully I will find my hoard one day! For now though I’ll be grateful for the odd hammy.
Photo Credit –George Ridgway handout
Passionate about history, metal detecting, and the thrill of the hunt, I’ve spent years uncovering hidden treasures across the Lincolnshire countryside and beyond. As a pub landlord with a love for music and a knack for storytelling, I bring a unique perspective to every adventure—whether it’s finding a rare coin in a field or sharing tales of British history.
When I’m not swinging a detector, you’ll find me exploring micro hobbies, dreaming of life on a canal boat, or helping others dive into the world of metal detecting with practical advice and a good dose of humor.
