A metal detectorist in Somerset has unearthed a spectacular Roman gold ring, which together with a hoard of 297 Roman coins has been acquired by the South West Heritage Trust for £78,000. Kevin Minto, a 68-year-old former soldier and lorry driver, made the discovery near Ilminster in 2018. The ring, dating to around AD 297, features an engraved gemstone depicting the goddess Victoria driving a two-horse chariot.
Minto initially thought he had found a coin, but soon realised it was something far more extraordinary. 'It was like being hit by an express train,' he said. 'One of the boys I was with was screaming: “We’re rich, we’re rich.”' The ring weighs 48 grams and is described by the trust as an 'unparalleled discovery for Britain' due to its size and artistry.
The trust's senior curator, Amal Khreisheh, said the ring is 'both large and heavy, with elaborate gold work and a beautifully executed intaglio'. She noted that while other examples exist, this ring is only paralleled by continental discoveries. The ring may have been worn on important occasions or had a ceremonial function, possibly belonging to a governor, merchant, or large landowner.
Minto, who took up detecting to keep fit, split the proceeds with the landowner and a detecting friend. He has used his share to pay off his mortgage and reduce his lorry driving to four days a week. The ring is now on a tour of primary schools and will be permanently housed at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.
