Man finds early medieval pendant in village near BoroughbridgeMetal detector finds Roman ring near AldboroughCeltic gold ring found in Knaresborough expected to fetch £30,000

A gold ring owned by a Celtic leader and unearthed in Knaresborough could be sold for up to £30,000.

The Iron Age jewellery dating back to 110BC was discovered in the town in 1994.

It is set to go to auction next week and is valued between £24,000 and £30,000.

The ring’s distinctive abstract design is linked to the Iceni tribe, which ruled a large part of East Anglia before the Roman invasion.

Experts believe the ring to have been worn by a chieftain from the Corieltauvi tribe, which ruled parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire.

Nigel Mills, consultant from Noonans auctioneers, described it as an exciting artefact to examine.

He said:

“It is the most exciting ring I have had the pleasure of examining and is likely to have been worn by an Iron Age chieftain from the Corieltauvi tribe which inhabited Yorkshire at that time.”

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The ring has been in private collection ever since it was discovered 28 years ago.

The North Yorkshire coroner declared the ring a stray find and therefore not treasure under the Treasure Trove law and it has been kept privately ever since.

This will be the first time the historic ring has been to auction.

It is set to go under the hammer on November 16.

Hoard of medieval treasure discovered in Harrogate set for auction

A hoard of medieval treasure found in a field of stubble near Harrogate is set to be auctioned.

Coins and a ring believed to date back to the 1470s were found by metal detecting enthusiast Jeff Warden, 65, and his sons Michael, 41, and 42-year-old Nick.

The family discovered the treasure in July 2020 during the first covid lockdown.

The discovery included a silver hammered penny, a silver groat or fourpence of Edward IV minted in Norwich and a gold ring, engraved with images of the Holy Trinity.

Nigel Mills, consultant at Noonans auctioneers, said the hoard dates to the War of the Roses and was likely to belong to a soldier from that time.

He said:

“The hoard dates to the late 1470s and was deposited during the Wars of the Roses, a conflict fought between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists lasting for 30 years from 1455 to 1487.”

 

“The hoard is very unusual, comprising 21 coins with a face value of two shillings and threepence together with the gold ring. It is likely that the hoard represents a soldier’s valuables who died in the Wars of the Roses.”

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The ring sold for £6,500 earlier this month, but the coins are set to be auctioned by Noonans on September 28.

The coins have a guide price of £260 to £340.

Proceeds from the sale will be split equally between the landowner and Warden family.

Viking treasure found in Tockwith

A person with a metal detector has found a silver neck-ring dating back to the Vikings during a search near Tockwith.

Experts believe the precious find was probably jewellery before it was used for hack silver, which people chopped up into smaller pieces to use as payment.

The finder, who has not been named, submitted the silver for consideration as treasure last year.

Yesterday, at a coroner’s inquest in Northallerton, the item was verified as treasure.

The neck-ring, which dates back to between AD 800 and 950, was found in June last year.

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John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire, said:

“I am delighted to say that it contains precious metal and is of sufficient age to qualify as treasure.”

The neck-ring is still with the person who found it. But York Museums Trust hopes to add the piece to its collections.

A spokesperson for the trust thanked the finder and told the Stray Ferret:

“The fragment comprises a circular sectioned rod with cut terminals to either end. The surface of the rod has a closely spiral-striated appearance. No nick marks are evident.

“We cannot comment on the value of the object. This will be decided by a panel of independent experts known as the Treasure Valuation Committee in due course.”