Truck Driver Discovers Ancient Roman Gold Ring in England

A truck driver and former soldier discovered a gold ring estimated to be 1,700 years old while searching farmland near Ilminster in the south west of the U.K. Kevin Minto, an amateur detectorist, found the ring using a metal detector. He initially thought he had found a coin or brooch. The ring features an engraved gemstone of Victoria, the Roman goddess of triumph, and weighs 48 grams, dating back to approximately A.D. 297. It is believed to have belonged to a person of high status during the Roman occupation. The South West Heritage Trust purchased the ring along with 297 coins for £78,000 ($105,000). Senior curator Amal Khreisheh described the find as significant for Britain. Minto used his share of the payment to pay off his mortgage and plans to continue searching the area for more artifacts.