The treasure hunter finds a touch of gold from the lost crown of Henry VIII

An amateur treasure hunter struck gold, literally.

Kevin Duckett was searching for treasures with his metal detector in a field near Market Harborough, Northamptonshire, England, when he unearthed a solid gold figurine that experts believe is part of a lost Henry VIII crown figurine. for a long time.

“At first I wondered if it was a crumpled aluminum foil plate from a 1970s Mr Kipling product, or even a golden milk bottle cap,” Duckett told the Sun.

“I received a very strong positive signal from my detector and started digging before detecting anything … It lodged next to a hole a few inches away.”

Duckett had found a 2.5-inch solid enamel and gold figure that has been lost for more than 400 years.

In 1649, Oliver Cromwell abolished the monarchy, beheaded King Charles I, and ordered the crown, once used by Henry VIII, to be minted and minted as coins, orders that were not followed.

According to the Sun, the 344 crown stones were sold separately, while other parts of the crown were transmitted intact so as not to be seen again.

The crown was worn by Henry VI II during his coronation and during his marriage to Anna of Cleves in 1540. The head was later used in the coronations of his sons, Edward, Mary and Elizabeth, and later James I. and Charles I.

Historians think the figurine may have been detached when Charles escaped, or buried it to keep it from Cromwell.