Bored mum finds 500-year-old gold coin worth £2,500 in back garden using son’s metal detector during lockdown
A MUM bored during lockdown used her son’s metal detector in her back garden — and dug up a 500-year-old gold coin.
Amanda Johnston, 48, has been told the Henry VII Fine Gold Angel is worth at least £2,500.
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Amanda, who lives in the Moneyfields area of Portsmouth, said: “I was bored with self-isolating and just wanted to see if I could find anything interesting. To begin with, I kept finding nails.
“It was so annoying. But suddenly the detector started sounding really good.
“I’ve only just finished doing up my garden and am quite meticulous about my lawn, so I really didn’t want to dig it up. But I went down about eight inches with a trowel and saw a glimmer of gold. I couldn’t believe it.”
Single Amanda has two sons — George, 11, and Bradley, 23. The detector was a Christmas gift for George, but she said he soon lost interest.
She started treasure hunting on the beach before having a go in her 28ft by 30ft back yard. Now she must decide what to do with the hammered coin — just 29mm wide and weighing 5g.
She said: “It’s quite thin but I realised straight away it could be something special.
“I’d like to keep it, but then again, if it’s worth £2,500, it’s tempting to sell it.
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“I don’t know what to do with it yet, though. I’ve got some serious thinking to do.”
Amanda, who put a snap of her find on Facebook, added: “Some people didn’t believe I’d found it in my garden. But I’m asthmatic and haven’t even stepped out onto the pavement for three weeks.
“It’s got me wondering what else could be out there.”
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