Couple renovating new home makes incredible £250,000 discovery under the floor

A couple renovating their 18th century detached home made an extraordinary discovery when they unearthed a hoard of 264 rare gold coins hidden beneath their kitchen floor. 

The coins, dating back over 400 years, have been valued at £250,000.

The homeowners, who wish to remain anonymous, had been relaying their kitchen floor at their home in Ellerby, North Yorkshire,  when they stumbled upon a salt-glazed earthenware cup just six inches below the surface. 

Initially believing they had struck an electrical cable, but upon further inspection, they were astonished to find a cup filled with gold coins.

As the youngest coin in the hoard was deemed less than 300 years old, the collection did not meet the legal criteria to be classified as treasure. 

This allowed the couple to retain ownership of the hoard and auction it for its impressive valuation of £250,000. It has since been sold for £754,000.

Experts believe the coins date back to 1610 and 1727, spanning the reigns of monarchs James I, Charles I and George I. 

The collection is believed to have belonged to Joseph and Sarah Fernley-Maisters, a wealthy merchant family from Hull who traded in iron ore, timber and coal. Several members of the family also served as Members of Parliament in the early 1700s.

Auctioneer Gregory Edmund of Spink & Son described the find as “a wonderful and truly unexpected discovery from so unassuming a location.” 

He said: “This find of over 260 coins is also one of the largest on archaeological record from Britain, and certainly for the 18th century period.

Mr Edmund added: “The estimate was £200,000 to £250,000, but when we made that estimate we neglected to think about the genuine, raw passion that people had for the story behind it.”

“It is an enormous privilege to share in this wonderful find and explore this hoard for the benefit of future generations.”