In a quiet field just a short stroll from his home in Sapcote, Leicestershire, bathroom fitter David Dunn, 42, uncovered a treasure that would change his life. Armed with his metal detector and a hunch, Dunn ventured out in July 2023 to a pasture he’d explored many times before. Little did he know, this ordinary day would lead to an extraordinary discovery—a hoard of 50 Roman coins, dating back to the late third century, now poised to fetch up to £1,500 at auction.
After hours of sweeping the field, Dunn’s detector buzzed with a faint signal. Digging into the soil, he unearthed a single Roman coin, its ancient surface glinting in the sunlight. Excitement surged as he used his pinpointer to locate another coin in the same spot. “I was so excited that I went to get the farmer,” Dunn recalled. Together, they dug deeper, unearthing a total of 50 coins scattered across a 4-meter square area, buried about 2 feet down. “It just snowballed from there,” he said, marveling at the find. “Who knows what would have happened if we continued digging further!”
This “once in a lifetime” haul, as Dunn describes it, includes coins from the reigns of Carausius (286–293), Allectus (293–296), Diocletian (284–305), and Maximian (286–305)—key figures in the turbulent history of the Roman Empire. One coin, a rare Antoninianus from Carausius’ reign, features a bust of Diocletian on one side and a standing woman on the other, marking it as a previously unknown variety. Dr. Sam Moorhead, a former National Finds Adviser for the Portable Antiquities Scheme at the British Museum, confirmed that this unique coin will be recorded in the forthcoming Roman Imperial Coinage volume 5, adding to its historical significance.
Alice Cullen, a coin expert at Noonans Mayfair, where the hoard will be auctioned on February 18, 2025, praised the discovery. “This is a wonderful find of Antoninianus coins by David, and we are very pleased to be selling them,” she said. The Antoninianus, valued at two denarii in its time, offers a glimpse into the Roman Empire’s complex political landscape, with emperors and usurpers like Carausius, who declared himself emperor in Britain after a revolt, and Diocletian, who reshaped the empire’s governance.
Dunn, a married father and avid golfer, took up metal detecting two years ago to unwind after long days fitting bathrooms. “I wanted to get out in the fresh air,” he explained. His passion for uncovering history, rather than profit, drives him. Despite the hoard’s estimated value of £1,200–£1,500, Dunn plans to share the proceeds with the farmer who owns the land, who has faced challenges since the Covid pandemic. “The money doesn’t interest me—just finding history is what I love,” he said.
After reporting his find to the local finds officer, Dunn entrusted the coins for evaluation. They were offered to local museums but ultimately disclaimed, allowing him to proceed with the sale. Many of the coins remain in remarkable condition, with crisp portraits that bring the ancient world to life. The field’s proximity to a known Roman villa hints at more secrets beneath the soil, but for now, Dunn’s discovery stands as a testament to the thrill of uncovering the past.
As the coins head to auction, Dunn reflects on his incredible luck. “Many of the coins were in really good condition with perfect portraits—it was a once in a lifetime find!” For this Leicestershire fitter, the true treasure lies not in the potential payout but in the history he’s brought to light, a 2,000-year-old legacy now ready to captivate collectors and historians alike.