Coins DIG

A man passionate about metal detecting discovered what is believed to be one of the oldest ancient Roman coins unearthed in Wales.

Roy Page is 69, and he is a retired butcher from Coedpoeth. He was the one to discover a detailed ancient coin that has about 2,000 years. The ancient coin was found on a farm near St. Asaph. Mr. Page was able to discover the rare piece when he was on search with the Mold-based Historical Search Society.

After the finding Roy Page gave the coin to the Portable Antiquities Scheme for examination. The experts identified the coin as dating from the 2^nd century BC. Experts consider that the ancient coin has been brought over some time after troops of the Roman Empire invaded Britain in 43 AD or when Romans visited Britain earlier in the 1^st century BC.

Mr. Page has been an active metal detecting fan for five years.

"The person who held the coin was probably a Roman. When he told me I nearly fainted, I was over the moon. I was told by an expert in our group that it could be the oldest coin found in Wales. It shows how far the Romans came into this country. It is living history. I suppose the way I feel is how you would feel if you won the pools. When you look at a map of where old coins have been found in Wales there have not been many found around St Asaph," he said.

The ancient Roman coin illustrates two horses that are driven by a man on a chariot.

According to Roy Page he dedicates ten hours each week to his hobby of metal detecting. He uses a computerized metal detector called Minelab X Terra. The device is able to differentiate between metals.

When Mr. Page was going for a drink he accidentally heard a recognizable high pitched bleep, which meant the identification of a coin. He said: "I flipped the soil back and it was there, only six inches down. I was thirsty and so I popped it in my pocket with my other finds."

He says that the value of the coin doesn't interest him; the biggest pleasure is the fact that he was able to find it.