Metal detectorist’s 900-year-old coin of Baron who served under Henry I fetches £30,000 at auction

 An incredibly rare 900-year-old coin unearthed by a metal detectorist has sold for almost £30,000 at auction.

The silver penny issued by a Yorkshire landowner was found by Rob Brown in two inches of mud in a stubble field near Pickering.

It is embossed with a helmeted knight holding a sword, with the inscription ‘Eustacius’, referring to Baron Eustace Fitzjohn, who lived from 1119 to 1157 and was Lord of Malton and Knaresborough. 

He served under Henry I during a period of civil war known as The Anarchy. 

Because of the political situation, he had the authority to issue money for use in the local area.

The coin, left, fetched double its estimate at auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb in London. The UK-based buyer paid £29,760, including fees.

Mr Brown, 56, from Leeds, will split the windfall with the landowner and plans to invest it in his pension pot.  

The 56-year-old was hunting for treasure on a stubble field near Pickering in North Yorkshire when he found the valuable piece.

This silver penny of Baron Eustace Fitzjohn, a 12th century business tycoon, was found by amateur detectorist Rob Brown in a field near Pickering in North Yorkshire

Amazingly, it was the first item he found that day and was buried just two inches below the ground.

After inspecting it, Mr Brown saw the design of a standing helmeted knight holding a sword.

It had the inscription of ‘EUSTACIUS’ on one side and a cross with the the legend ‘EBOR. ACIT. DEFT.’ on the reverse.

Mr Brown had no idea what it was at first but further research revealed it was a very rare silver penny issued in York by Eustace Fitzjohn.

He was the Lord of Malton and Knaresborough who served under King Henry I in the 12th century.

He was a wealthy land owner in the 12th century through marriage and then supporting the Empress Matilda when she fought a civil war with her cousin Stephen in the period known as ‘The Anarchy’.

There is a fortification which dates from the conflict near where the coin was found.

Mr Brown, from Leeds, said: I was out on a club dig and I had only walked about 20 yards when I got a really loud signal.

‘It was only a couple of inches below the ground and after giving it a good rub I didn’t recognise what it was.

Mr Brown had no idea what it was at first so sent specialist auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb a photo of it. A n expert revealed it was a very rare silver penny dating back to the 12th century

Mr Brown had no idea what it was at first so sent specialist auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb a photo of it. A n expert revealed it was a very rare silver penny dating back to the 12th century

‘Because it had a sword on it, I thought it could have been Viking but nobody knew what it was.

‘I put it on Facebook and pretty much straight away I had people replying saying how rare and valuable it was.I couldn’t believe it.’

Mr Brown notified his local finds liaison officer about the discovery and then sent specialist auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb a photo of the coin.

An excited expert immediately caught a train from London to Leeds to meet with him.

Nigel Mills, an expert in artefacts and antiquities at Dix Noonan Webb, said: ‘Baron Eustace Fitzjohn was a Justician of the north and became a great monastic patron.

‘He was to some extent, the Baron Alan Sugar of his day coming from a humble background but achieving great wealth and prominence.

This coin is a very rare silver penny issued in York by Eustace Fitzjohn. The business tycoon has been likened to the Baron Alan Sugar of his day

This coin is a very rare silver penny issued in York by Eustace Fitzjohn. The business tycoon has been likened to the Baron Alan Sugar of his day

‘As it was a period of civil war, Baron Fitzjohn had the authority to have coins struck in York which were primarily for local use.’

Mr Brown will split the proceeds of the sale with the land owner.

He said: ‘I am planning on retiring soon so any money made will be going into that pot.’

Eustace Fitzjohn lived between 1119 and 1157. He was killed in Flintshire after being ambushed by the Welsh army.

The coin will be auctioned in London on November 3.

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