Somerset detectorist strikes gold with ‘spectacular’ Roman ring find
Kevin Minto, a metal detectorist from Somerset, discovered a rare gold Roman ring near Ilminster, depicting the goddess Victoria. The South West Heritage Trust acquired the ring along with a hoard of 297 Roman coins for £78,000. Minto expressed his satisfaction that the find will remain in Somerset and shared the financial benefits with the landowner and a friend.
- ▪The gold Roman ring weighs 48 grams and dates back to around AD297.
- ▪Minto found the ring during a military veterans' detecting rally, leading to a dispute over the proceeds.
- ▪The South West Heritage Trust described the ring as an unparalleled discovery for Britain due to its scale and artistry.
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| Original publisher | the Guardian |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/02/somerset-detectorist-roman-ring-find-ilminster |
| Publication time | Tue, 02 Jun 2026 06:00:40 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-02T07:20:28.870Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-02T07:20:53.704Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
‘You’re a little dumbfounded, really,’ Minto said of the find. ‘One of the boys I was with was screaming: “We’re rich, we’re rich.”’ Photograph: South West Heritage TrustView image in fullscreen‘You’re a little dumbfounded, really,’ Minto said of the find. ‘One of the boys I was with was screaming: “We’re rich, we’re rich.”’ Photograph: South West Heritage TrustRoman BritainSomerset detectorist strikes gold with ‘spectacular’ Roman ring findKevin Minto’s discovery near Ilminster, showing goddess Victoria, has been acquired with coin hoard for £78,000Steven MorrisTue 2 Jun 2026 02.00 EDTLast modified on Tue 2 Jun 2026 02.29 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleWhen Kevin Minto, a lorry driver, former soldier and keen metal detectorist, came upon something glinting in a Somerset field, he…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at the Guardian.
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