Valuable treasure uncovered in Chester

[Kev]

Apr 19 2012 by Carmella de Lucia, Chester Chronicle
A Metal detecterist spoke of his excitement at finding a valuable medieval gold ring, 28 years after he found a stash of antique coins in the same place.
George McKean was using a sensitive metal detector on the Duke of Westminster’s estate in Huntington when he found the 15th century ring, along with an antique silver groat coin.
The find came 28 years after Mr McKean, 59, uncovered 42 coins and a ring, which has been stored at Chester’s Grosvenor Museum ever since.
During a treasure inquest at Chester Magistrates Court, a report by Dr Barry Cooke, curator of medieval and early modern coinage, confirmed the ring qualified as treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 due to its age and because it contains more than 10% precious metal.

The report stated the medieval finger ring is engraved with an image of St Christopher supporting the Christ child on his shoulder.
It also said that the coin, which was found in close proximity to the ring, is a silver groat containing more than 90% fine metal and is a Henry VI angullette issue, dating back to the 1420s.
Mr McKean, of Wrexham, chairman of the Historical Search Society in Mold, has treasure hunted in the area for more than 40 years.
He said: “I’m very excited about this. I’m not in it for the money, it’s the finding of it and the recording of it and having it put into the museum – that is what it is all about.”
Mr McKean, who discovered the items in March 2010, had the permission of the tenant and the Duke of Westminster’s Estate to search the land.
The collection is being stored at the Grosvenor Museum.