A hoard of Roman gold coins discovered by a metal detectorist near where Julius Caesar landed to invade Britain has been sold for more than £100,000.

Some 35 gold coins were unearthed by Tony Asquith in Lenham, Maidstone in August 2022.

The treasure was found during a Joan Allen Detecting Rally by the retiree who has been detecting for over 45 years.

The coins were uncovered within nine fragments of a flint nodule which was believed to have been formed between 70 and 90 million years ago.

This nodule was reconstructed before going on sale today (Wednesday, September 18) at Noonans Mayfair auction house in Bolton Street, London.

The collection was expected to fetch £20,000 but the winning bid was £103,500.

Tony, who attended the auction, will share the money with the landowner but will not say how he will spend the cash.

Nigel Mills, Coins and artefacts Specialist at Noonans explained how Tony discovered the finds using his Minelab Equinox 800.

He said: “Tony at first just found some wire and a shotgun cartridge. But then, he got a signal which revealed a brownish coin. He was surprised to recognise this as a Celtic stater.

“On looking down he saw what looked like a pile of chocolate buttons laid out but after putting on his glasses, Tony realised that they were all Celtic staters.

“They all have a shallow domed obverse with a dished reverse that displays an abstract or devolved horse galloping to the right with a charioteer’s arm above.

“The hollow interior of the nodule would originally have contained mud and the decayed remains of marine animals.

“10 other hoards of Iron Age gold coins contained in flint nodules have been found in Britain, but all of them are in museums.”

One of the coins – a Gallo-Belgic Stater – that was decorated with a head of Apollo on one side and a stylised horse and charioteer on the other side fetched the highest bid.

It was estimated to be sold for between £500-700 but a bidder paid £7,500 for it.

Meanwhile, another Gallo-Belgic stater with a stylised horse went under the hammer for £6,500. It was predicted it would bring in between £600 to £800.

The nodule was bought for £4,800 against an estimate of £80 and £100.