History often reveals itself in the most unexpected ways. While many artifacts reside in museums, carefully preserved and displayed, some are uncovered by ordinary people who simply pay attention. Kevin Minto, a trucker and former soldier from Somerset, is one such individual. He is not an archaeologist nor a museum professional; he spends his weekends walking fields with a metal detector, searching for hidden treasures.
Remarkably, Minto discovered a nearly 1,700-year-old gold Roman ring. The ring, weighing 48 grams, features a central gemstone engraved with an image of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, riding a two-horse chariot. According to Minto, the ring is "unique to Britain, there isn't another one like it." During subsequent visits to the same area, he also found a lead-lined coffin, marking the site as significant in recent British archaeological memory.
Minto, now 68, admitted that the significance of the find took time to sink in. "It wasn't until I went to the British Museum and saw it all laid out there with the coins that it really sunk in," he told CNN.
The ring has been acquired by the South West Heritage Trust, which raised £78,010 to purchase both the ring and a coin hoard Minto had discovered the previous year. Under British law, metal detectorists must report treasure finds to a local finds liaison officer, after which a coroner holds an inquest. Museums can then acquire the items for public benefit, with proceeds split between the finder and landowner. Minto shared his half with a fellow detectorist from his veterans' group, netting over £19,500.
Amal Khreisheh, senior curator at the South West Heritage Trust, speculated on the original owner: "We think it belonged to somebody who was wealthy, perhaps involved in local administration or someone with a farming estate in south Somerset, which was a wealthy area during this period." The Trust described the ring as an "extraordinary" and "unparalleled discovery" for Britain.
For Minto, the appeal of metal detecting goes beyond the finds. "When you do find something, your heart races. You never know what it is until you turn the soil over," he said. The ring and coins are currently shown to local school children as part of a community engagement program before their permanent display at The Museum of Somerset.
