A father of two has discovered a 24-carat gold brooch, believed to be worth up to £100,000. David Edwards, 44, found the 800-year-old piece buried in farmland near his home in Cardigan, West Wales, while metal detecting after work. Experts described the emerald-studded brooch, which measures less than an inch wide and weighs just four grams, as "one of a kind." It is believed the artifact, known as the tower brooch, dates back to the 13th century and belonged to a high-ranking nobleman such as a duke or earl.
According to the Daily Mail, the piece is valued at least £10,000, with one expert stating it could sell for ten times that amount at auction. Edwards expressed his astonishment upon uncovering the stunning piece, saying, "It was a cloudy evening when I came out of work, and the river light was beginning to fade, so I didn't expect miracles." Within half an hour, the item appeared, lying just four inches below the surface of recently plowed ground, "so at first, I couldn't see its beautiful intricate patterns."
With the help of a friend who metal detects, Edwards dug about four inches down to uncover the emerald-studded brooch with a complex sword-shaped clasp covered in mud. "I couldn't believe that the little clasp still worked." Edwards had previously found similar silver pins, "which is rare in itself, but I've never seen anything like this," he added. "Finding one made of gold with this beautiful turquoise emerald is really special."
On another note, Julian Evan Hart, an expert in rare treasures and editor of the "Treasure Hunting" magazine, stated that this piece is incomparable to anything else. "This is an incredibly stunning piece of jewelry. I have no doubt it belonged to a duke or earl - possibly someone with a military connection because of the sword-shaped clasp," as it would have been illegal for lower classes to possess such pure gold.
This piece will sell for a minimum of £10,000 but could reach £100,000, as the artifact is currently undergoing a treasure process according to the Treasure Act of 1996, according to the Daily Mail. A coroner will decide whether the item should go to public auction or if Mr. Edwards may keep it, and any proceeds must be shared with the landowner.
