In 2012, two British men dug up about 70,000 coins, which are now handed over to the local government, and the two are rewarded with 4.2 million pounds.
According to British media reports on December 23, 79-year-old Reg Mead and 58-year-old Richard Mills are from the United Kingdom, and they usually conduct "treasure hunting" through metal detectors. More than 30 years ago, the two heard about the burial of Celtic coins on the east side of Jersey.
Although there is no exact location, the two have been exploring for more than 30 years. In early 2012, they took a metal detector for a walk through the fields of Gruville. On the second day of the search, Richard's device made a sound.
The two initially found a total of 61 copper and silver coins. They then hired an excavation team to dig up about 70,000 coins in four days in the summer of 2012. Historians believe that these coins are 2,000 years old.
After nine years of painstaking negotiations with the Jersey government and the British royal family, Reg and Richard agreed to hand over the coins to the country, and they would receive £4.2 million in return.
Reg told the media they were satisfied with the final amount. He said: "I'm very happy that now there are finally results. "It's not about money, it's the best Christmas present we can have with our family." Richard added: "You can never imagine that one day something like this would happen to you. ”
Jersey Chief Minister John Le Fond said: "Since the discovery of the ancient coin nine years ago, Jersey heritage conservators, archaeologists and volunteers have been studying these treasures. ”