On Sunday February 19th 1989 the Yeovil Bottle and Metal Detecting Club met at a new site. As they set out across the field, 36-year-old Mike Pittard found a few Roman coins.

A newcomer to the hobby, Anne Laverty, asked Mike's advice on whether she had set up her machine correctly. Mike explained the importance of listening for the very faint signals. As he spoke he heard the slightest change in tone on Anne's machine.

They dug down and almost gave up when they reached one foot! At eighteen inches Mike suddenly began to find coins, Roman coins!

Mike continued to excavate with increasing excitement until he came across the jagged edge of broken pottery. The club was, by now, gathered around and helping with the excavation. After a long while the intact pot was revealed standing some 14" high and 12"-13" high, with its contents, weighing more than one hundredweight. The pot and coins were removed and Mike's final count was more than 22,500 Roman coins.