U.K. metal detectorist lands Henry III gold penny - £648k

In 2022 an amateur metal detectorist found an incredibly rare Henry III gold penny, which was unearthed on farmland in Devon. Minted in 1257, it depicts the English king sitting on an ornate throne, holding an orb and scepter. It is one of only eight such coins known to exist. The rare coin was estimated to fetch £400k. It sold for £648k.

Henry III, also known as Henry of Winchester, was King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine from 1216 until his death in 1272. The son of King John and Isabella of Angoulême assumed the throne when he was nine. The gold penny had a value of twenty pence (1⁄12 pound sterling). It has a weight of 2.95 grams. The coin was short-lived as it quickly became undervalued, which led to its virtual disappearance. Most were melted down. 3 were in private collections. 4 are housed in museums.