Metal Detectorist Unearths Medieval Gold Cross Valued at Over £20,000

A grandmother has discovered a medieval gold reliquary cross, potentially worth more than £20,000, while metal detecting in a farmer's field on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent.

Shelley Couzins, 58, made the find after five hours of searching yielded only "rubbish." Her detector finally signaled a find, and buried a foot below the surface, she uncovered the gold cross. Couzins initially believed it to be costume jewelry, expressing disbelief at finding such a significant item.

The cross, weighing 10.6 grams, has been identified as a medieval gold reliquary cross. One side features a depiction of Jesus's crucifixion, while the other shows Mary with the baby Jesus. The cross has a pin that allows it to open, typically to hold a spiritual object, but Couzins opted not to open it to avoid potential damage. A pearl adorns the bottom, and Couzins suspects there were originally three pearls.

The discovery was made in August while Couzins was out with the Medway History Finders. After reporting the find, it was classified as treasure and is now with the British Museum. If the museum decides to keep the artifact, its value will be determined and split between Couzins and the landowner.

Couzins, who has been metal detecting for four years, hopes the cross may have a connection to historical figures associated with the Isle of Sheppey, such as Henry VIII or the Boleyn family.

"It is unusual to find one complete like that as well," Couzins stated. "With the ploughing they normally get broken up." She expressed satisfaction in having saved the artifact, noting that further ploughing could have damaged it. "I am happy for it to go to a good home where it needs to go instead of sitting in my cupboard," she added. "If it is historical I will be really pleased with that."

Prior to this discovery, Couzins had found a third of a Guinea gold coin from 1822 and a medieval silver bead ring, both of which were handed in for analysis.