A metal detectorist is celebrating today after an extremely rare 700-year-old gold coin he unearthed sold for £173,000. The Edward III 'leopard' coin, which was minted in 23-carat gold at the Tower of London, is one of five known surviving examples.
It was dug up by Andy Carter, 65, who found it 10ins below the surface in a muddy field in Reepham, Norfolk, in October 2019. At first he thought he had found a worthless metal button until he wiped off the mud and saw a glint of gold. The knowledgeable treasure hunter realised immediately that it was a 'leopard coin', prompting him to do a little dance in the field.
The coin, which weighs 3.5 grams, was struck in 1344 and was King Edward III's ill-fated attempt to use gold coinage to facilitate European trade. It depicts a crowned leopard sitting upright carrying the quartered arms of England and France. It had a face value of three shillings but was in circulation for just seven months before being withdrawn.
