Roman fortune for diggers

A COLLECTION of Roman coins found in a Sussex field was hailed yesterday as one of the rarest discoveries of its kind and could earn its finders a small fortune.

The 22 gold coins, 27 silver coins, two gold rings and 50 pieces of silver bullion were found on farmland in West Sussex by friends Terry Bromley and Terry Silver.

The pair, along with Philip Thomas, the farmer on whose land near Littlehampton the coins were unearthed, are to share a reward for the value of the coins after an inquest in Chichester ruled the find was treasure trove.

Using a metal detector the two initally found five coins but returned later with a mini-digger.

John Orna-Ornstein, curator of Roman coins at the British Museum told the hearing that the discovery was one of the rarest ever made. One of the coins dates back to 340 AD and the latest to 461 AD, fifty years after the Roman's left Britain.

Mr Orna-Ornstein said: "The coins range from a period of more than 100 years which include seven emperors, the most recent coin is under the reign of Libius Severus. The Romans left Britain in about 410 AD so there was no coinage about in circulation at the time. These coins must have been hidden away."

The collection is being temporarily looked after by the British Museum and in September a treasure trove evaluation committee will meet to decide the size of the reward.