"Clearly Unusual" Hobby Discovery of a Coin Worth '9 Million Won' Jackpot

Discovered with a Metal Detector:
1,900-Year-Old Roman Coin
Recognized for Rarity, Sold at Auction for About 9 Million Won

A story about a British man who found a treasure worth 9 million won through metal detecting as a hobby is gaining attention. On the 2nd (local time), BBC and other foreign media reported that 76-year-old Ron Walters, who lives in Kingswinford, West Midlands, discovered a rare coin. Last year, while using a metal detector near Dudley, he found a coin. Upon first discovering the coin, he immediately thought it was very rare and valuable.

A man in the UK discovered a rare coin that is 1,900 years old using a metal detector. On the 2nd (local time), BBC and other foreign media reported that 76-year-old Ron Walters, who lives in Kingswinford, West Midlands, found the rare coin. Last year, he found a coin while using a metal detector near Dudley. BBC

In fact, this coin is a coin of Emperor Aulus Vitellius, made in AD 69, and it is the only coin of its kind found in the UK. Emperor Vitellius ruled Rome for about eight months during the "Year of the Four Emperors," a period of civil war in the Roman Empire. This coin, issued during a time of turmoil, holds great historical value. The coin was recently auctioned at Fields Auction House in the UK for ?4,700 (approximately 9 million won). The auction house stated, "This coin has been underground for over 1,900 years, but its value remains high," adding, "It is also significant as a high-purity gold coin." The winning bidder is known to be a collector from Scotland.

The auction proceeds will be split equally between the finder, Walters, and the owner of the farm where the coin was found. He plans to use the proceeds to upgrade his camper van and metal detecting equipment. In a BBC radio interview, Walters said, "It was a once-in-a-lifetime discovery," and "Above all, I am happy because of its historical significance." He also mentioned, "There is more than just coins underground. Old buttons and belt buckles each have their own stories," indicating his intention to continue metal detecting as a hobby in the future.