Gold Coins Found in a SOCK!!! #metaldetecting #metaldetectingscotland #gold #detectinghistory
Channel: Ring Pull Paul Metal Detecting
Date: 2024-01-20

A haul of valuable gold coins has been found in an old sock and pillow cases in a house in Leicestershire. A total of 331 gold coins were found in the property during a house clearance - and sold for £90,768 at auction.

Hansons Auctioneers said the sovereigns were found at the bottom of a linen chest. They spanned three centuries, from Queen Victoria’s reign in the 1800s to the 21st century.

The haul, valued at £300-£500 per coin, went under the hammer at the Hanson Ross auction house in Hertfordshire on Wednesday, January 17. The overall total, including a buyer’s premium, was £118,000.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said finding valuable artefacts in people’s homes could be like playing hide and seek. He said: “These are found in drawers, wardrobes, cupboards, bags and, in this case, even an old sock.

“People have a multitude of hiding places. Sometimes it’s a case of hide and seek. In this case, workers were checking through the attic and linen in a bedroom chest when the coins were discovered. You can imagine their amazement.

"First they saw the golden glint of one gold coin, then handfuls emerged. Some were hidden in a pillowcase and many others were tucked away in a sock. Our client was flabbergasted and delighted in equal measure. They had no idea the house contained a treasure trove of gold.

“You hear about people stashing cash under the bed but this was quite extraordinary. Normally gold of this value would have been kept locked away in a safe or bank vault. The coins were most probably amassed over many years but no-one, aside from their late owner, knew they existed.”

The sovereigns included coins dating back to the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign which began in 1937. The earliest Queen Victoria sovereign was minted in 1846 while another was dated 1901, the year of her death. Other monarchs depicted on the coins through the centuries included King Edward VII, King George V and Queen Elizabeth II.

“It was like a walk through 300 years of history,” said Charles. “The coins were in hot demand under the hammer because gold is sought after and prices are strong. The collection sparked a white glove sale, an auction term used when every single lot sells.”

“The collection captured the passage of time due to different monarchs represented on the sovereigns. They also reminded us of the length of their reigns. Due to long periods on the throne, Victoria and Elizabeth’s coin profiles alter through the decades.”