500-year-old coin that may have been dropped by one of Richard III's soldiers

[Neil]

Michelle Vall, from Blackpool, was detecting close to Bosworth Field when she dug up the old coin called a half angel. 

It is now set fetch £15,000 ($20,000) at Dix Noonan Webb's auction of coins, historical medals and paper money on 13 December.

Ms Vall, 51, made the rare discovery in Monks Kirby, Warwickshire, during a charity detecting rally in  September.

The teaching assistant said: 'After detecting for two and a half hours in a farmer's field I got a signal.

'The coin was deep down, about 16 inches below the surface, and the soil there is thick clay so it took a bit of digging out.

'I spotted this glint of gold in the hole, although I obviously did not know exactly what it was at first.

'I put it in the palm of my hand and then I went back to the organiser's tent. One of them identified it and people became very excited.

The half angel was a gold coin roughly two centimetres in diameter and weighing just under three grams. It was introduced in 1472 during the reign of King Edward IV.

Angels and half angels continually fluctuated in value under the reigns of several kings before they were abolished and replaced by Guineas by King Charles II in 1663.


Michelle Vall, from Blackpool, was detecting close to Bosworth Field when she dug up the old coin called a half angel. It is now set fetch £15,000 ($20,000) at Dix Noonan Webb's auction of coins, historical medals and paper money on 13 December

Experts speculate the gold coin may have been dropped by one of Richard's soldiers fleeing the pivotal Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485




BATTLE OF BOSWORTH FIELD

The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought on 22 August 1485.

It marked the end of the thiry-year long Wars of the Roses between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists for the English throne in the latter half of the 15th century.

Lancastrian Henry Tudor defeated the last Yorkist King Richard III and started the Tudor dynasty, which ruled England for the next 118 years.
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Ms Vall's discovery of the coin minted during Richard III's short two-year reign makes it a rare example and an exciting find for the detector who only took up the hobby two years ago.

She said: 'I have decided to sell it because it is too valuable to keep. I did not want to keep it in a cupboard.

'I feel very privileged that I have found something so precious and historic. The memory of that day, the excitement not just of myself but also of other detectorists, when I found that beautiful, tiny piece of historic gold will live with me for the rest of my life.

'I started detecting because I am a keen antique collector and walker and when I became aware that it is a popular activity and there are clubs you can join with like-minded people, I realised that it combines the best of both my passions.

Ms Valls goes detecting with her husband most weekends.

'It has improved my historical knowledge which I pass down to the children in the school where I work', she said.

Ms Vall, 51, made the discovery in Monks Kirby, Warwickshire, during a charity detecting rally in September. The teaching assistant said she had been detecting for two and a half hours


Christopher Webb, head of the coins department at Dix Noonan Webb, said: 'This is a very rare discovery that has miraculously survived in a Warwickshire field for more than five centuries.

'It's importance as a coin is enhanced by the tantalising possibility that it may have belonged to one of Richard's army whose defeat at Bosworth ended the Wars of the Roses and ushered in the Tudor dynasty.'

The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought on 22 August 1485.

It marked the end of the thiry-year long Wars of the Roses between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists for the English throne in the latter half of the 15th century.

Lancastrian Henry Tudor defeated the last Yorkist King Richard III and started the Tudor dynasty, which ruled England for the next 118 years.

[Chainsaw Bampy]

what a cracking find.  once in a lifetime probably, but a dream for most of us,  well found girl.

[Val Beechey]

Well done the finder. Fantastic.

Bet that’s one bit of gold you wouldn’t mind having Neil . . Thanks for posting.

[wagis]

What a beautiful find, I have not heard of one before. wow

[dingdong]

Many thanks for posting Neil,great story to read..Well isn't that what we all go in search of  in the hope of finding !!😁
PS:Bosworth field ...isn't in the right location,as the actual battle is now thought to be nearly a quarter of a mile from the attributed hallowed battle field.
(Time Team special)

[probono]

A lovely (and rare) find.

[Resurgam]

               "Wow" what a find, and so perfect. Very lucky not to have been damaged by the plough! 

[congerman]

stunning find well searched

[Mitchy]

Hello. Can i just say a thank you to your members for posting your comments about my coin. I was a little disheartened when i started to recieve not so nice comments and your words have made me feel better. Thanks again.
Michelle

[Resurgam]

Not so nice comments? Sour grapes perhaps? 

[Andre]

Well done 👍 Michelle!Dream find!
16”inches,that’s super deep.
What machine do you currently use and how did it sounded like?
Thanks for showing

[Mitchy]

Who knows, maybe.

[Mitchy]

Evening Andre
Thank you. I was out with my At pro with Nel Tornado coil.  The signal was a soft sound not a blasting one like an old penny. In fact the field was that quiet, thats probably the reason why i heard it . Number came up at positive 65. Cant believe how deep it was myself, my detector still does it now, im always digging for Britain. 
What detector r u using.

[Resurgam]

Didn't you get any flack for digging beyond the depth of the plough and into the subsoil or as all that gone by the wayside; like so much hedge fodder? 

[Andre]

Thanks for replying Michelle,I use a Fisher F44 with a detech ultimate 13” coil and the 11” elliptical coil.I always ask about machines to see if it’s time to buy another one,like if
other machine set ups would go a bit deeper.Mine finds me stuff,specially small silver but only goes past 10” if it’s a big target and they usually are iron like horse shoes.
I’m so used to it and I never tried or been with someone with a different one to compare.
I suppose it’s also a fact that you need a bit of luck and to be on the right spot.
I still think that 16” it’s a very good depth.