Rare 900-year-old coin found in a Wallingford field could sell for £7,000

The twelfth century silver penny was found by 64-year-old landscaper John Denham in a farmer’s field in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, in September.

Mr Denham found the 'extremely rare' penny on a metal detecting trip with his sons Simon, 39, and Steven, 31, dug it up from beneath four inches of soil.

The silver penny has been given a guide price of £6,000 to £7,000 by Hansons Auctioneers ahead of a sale on Monday.

Read also: A tribute in memory of Camera Club photographer Roy Pyniger

The auction house said the penny was issued by Henry of Anjou some time between 1139 and 1148 during ‘the Anarchy’, a period of civil war in England.

The conflict saw Henry and his mother Empress Matilda try to gain control of south-west England from King Stephen, with the town of Wallingford once being the easternmost stronghold of Henry’s supporters.

He was crowned Henry II of England after Stephen’s death on December 19, 1154.

Mr Denham said: “We thought this penny might be something special but, once it had been identified and recorded, we were still surprised to learn how valuable it was.”

He started metal detecting in the early 1980s using a £100 detector and later inspired his sons to take up the hobby.

He added: “The field where I found it had recently been ploughed and planted.

“Many ancient coins get damaged by farming machinery. We’re very excited to see what this penny achieves at auction.”

His son Simon, who is also a landscaper, said his father had made the find with a metal detector he had given him as a gift.

He said: “As a family, we’re passionate about metal detecting. We’re a team. We’re in it purely for the enjoyment of making the finds.

“It’s a reward seeing them come out of the ground. It’s not about money. This is the first thing we’ve ever decided to sell and we’re only doing that because the coin is so important.”

He added: “It’s an important part of Wallingford’s ancient history. It’s survived for nearly 1,000 years and it’s in remarkable condition.”

This not the metal detectorist family's first are find. In August, they discovered a rare Saxon brooch which is of unknown value and is currently being assessed by a museum in Oxford.

Read also: Greens say Cherwell Tories are 'out of touch' with animal-lovers after badger cull motion fails

Over the years, they have also uncovered silver hammered coins, Saxon and Roman artefacts and a Papal bulla, a lead seal that would have been attached to a papal document to guarantee authenticity.

Adam Staples, historica expert at Hansons, said: “John’s coin is the only complete example recorded where both the mint town and name of the moneyer can be read.

“The reverse of the penny tells us that it was made by Robertus at the Wallingford mint, a moneyer who was not previously known to have minted coins there. This makes it excessively rare.”

The auction house said that any proceeds from the sale of the coin will be split 50/50 with the landowner.