Ron Walters, a passionate metal detectorist, has made an extraordinary discovery: a rare gold Roman coin from 69 AD, believed to be the first of its kind ever found in Britain! This exciting find came after six years of dedicated searching in a farmer’s field near Dudley, West Midlands, during the spring and autumn when the crops were not sown.

At 76 years young, Ron, a retired welder and proud grandfather, almost decided to stay home on the day of his discovery. It was his encouraging wife who urged him to go out and enjoy the fresh air. And what a wonderful decision that turned out to be! After just a couple of hours of searching, he picked up a signal, began digging, and, after a moment of suspense, the coin magically dropped into his hand.

This remarkable coin is believed to be the first gold aureus of Emperor Aulus Vitellius ever recorded in the British Isles. The thrill of finding a Roman coin, one of the most coveted treasures among metal detecting enthusiasts, filled Ron with joy. He couldn’t wait to share the news, quickly pocketing the coin and heading home with a racing heart.

The 1,955-year-old coin recently auctioned at Fieldings Auctioneers for an impressive $6,000, which Ron plans to share with the landowner of the field. Mark Hannam, senior coin specialist at Fieldings, praised the find as a genuinely amazing piece of history. Coins from 69 AD are exceedingly rare in Britain, as most discovered are from later centuries. The purity of the gold during that era makes this coin even more special.

It’s truly inspiring to see how a simple hobby can lead to such incredible discoveries. Ron’s story encourages all hobbyists to keep searching for their own treasures. Happy digging!