From Bacon Butty to Gold: My Richard II Noble Discovery

A last-minute invite from my friend Paul turned into a true bucket lister moment!

I had been dealing with a torn meniscus and was awaiting surgery, which made it tough to get out and impossible to work. On a Thursday morning, Paul called and said he had access to a field that hadn’t been sown yet. After some persuasion, I agreed to join him for a few hours.

After a token cup of Yorkshire tea and a bacon butty, we headed into the field. No more than ten minutes in, I picked up a signal — a clear mid-tone showing 60 on the VDI. Sounded like a copper coin or maybe some large lead.

I called Paul over and he swung his Equinox 800 over the spot. He agreed with the reading and returned to his own dig.

I dug no more than four inches down, moved the spoil slightly, and there it was — the color everyone loves to see: Gold!

I couldn’t contain myself when I picked it up. Paul was beaming too. I had just rescued a bent gold hammered coin — a Richard II full gold Noble, minted in Calais, Type 3a, French title resumed, dated 1377–1399.

The coin has since been professionally straightened and added to my collection. A day I’ll never forget.

Thank you, Paul.