Three rare Iron Age gold coins, unearthed on farmland in the Maldon area, could reap the finder a handsome reward.

Metal detector enthusiast David Marvin, who discovered the 300-year-old staters -- about the size of 5p coins -- will receive their market value now that an inquest at Chelmsford has designated them as treasure trove.

After British Museum experts have valued the staters, the hoard will join three similar coins on public display at Colchester Museum.

The coins were detected close to each other on three separate occasions by Mr Marvin at a depth of between four and six feet.

Colchester Museum curator of archaeology Philip Wise told last Wednesday's inquest that the coins were minted during the reign of King Dubnovellaunos, of the Essex tribe of Trinovantes, the first ethnic Britons to sign a non-aggression treaty with the Roman settlers.

The staters, which bear the king's name in Latin and depict a wreath design and a galloping horse, are the first indication of literacy among ancient Britons.

Mr Wise said that the staters probably constituted part of a larger savings hoard which, over the centuries, had been dispersed by modern agricultural activity.

He said after the inquest: "Mr Marvin is a responsible metal detector who, for some time, had worked closely with the museum, and the payment of a reward encourages others who make similar discoveries to declare their finds and work closely with archaeologists."

Curator Philip Wise compares three Iron Age staters with a modern 5p piece.

picture: STEVE CLOW

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