DNurse Buffy Winship Bailey couldn’t believe what she pulled out of the field after the metal detector beeped. This is a golden object, shaped like an open little bible. It is only 1.5 cm tall and weighs 5 grams, but it may be worth as much as six digits.
Bailey and her husband discovered the “mini bible” in a field in Yorkshire in the north of England. The site is close to York, at the intersection of several historic sidewalks, close to the manor that once belonged to King Richard III of England. Once belonged. The two treasure hunters appeared there with the permission of the landlord.
At the edge of the newly plowed field, she immediately received a strong signal with her metal detector, Bailey reported to FAZ. “I dug about 5 inches and there was something shiny there. My heartbeat started to speed up.”
Ake once belonged to Richard III.
It turns out that this small and heavy object is a spectacular discovery: a 15th-century “mini bible”. There is a rope hole in the spine of the book, which can be hung around the neck. Saint Leonhard and Saint Margaret have a dragon carved on the two opened pages. They are considered the patron saint of pregnancy.
The field where the golden bible is buried is not far from the Hutton Sheriff’s Castle owned by King Richard III in the late Middle Ages. (1452 to 1485) used. British media speculated that this golden pamphlet may belong to the female relatives of the short-term king or some other wealthy nobles.
Experts rated this discovery as a great art historical treasure. Julian Evan Hart, editor-in-chief of “Treasure Hunt” magazine, called this little golden book an “extraordinary and unique” historical artifact. He estimated the value of the auction to exceed 100,000 pounds (116,000 euros).
Treasure hunting is a national sport
“This artwork is very similar to Middleham’s jewelry, and it is very likely that it was made by the same artist,” Evan Hart told the BBC. The Middleham Jewelry is a diamond-shaped gold pendant with a crucifixion scene and blue sapphires. It was discovered in the 1980s near Middleham Castle, the northern residence of Richard III. Later the Yorkshire Museum bought it for 2.5 million pounds.
According to the law, the museum enjoys the right of first refusal to purchase historical relics salvaged by thousands of amateur archaeologists and treasure hunters in the country every year. According to the “Treasure Law”, Buffy Winship Bailey’s mini-bible also officially belongs to the royal family. The museum in York is currently inspecting the work, and the auctioneer should estimate the value. If the museum buys it, the discoverer and the owner of the field will each receive half of the proceeds as a reward for the discoverer.
The historical treasure hunt is a true national sport in the UK. Every weekend, thousands of enthusiasts roam the meadows and fields, hoping to find Celts, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Normans and later coins, jewelry, weapons or tools. A complete small industry has been developed around treasure hunts, and the price of absolute professional equipment for metal detectors ranges from £200 to £2,000. “Treasure Hunt” magazine put the newly discovered golden bible on the front page.
