Customer Treasure Stories
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White's have been making wonderful finds throughout the world since their introduction into the ever popular hobby of metal detecting.

We're always delighted to receive stories and photographs from White's users. Please contact us by email and lets share your experiences whilst detecting with many other interested readers.

The Middleham Jewel

The Middleham Jewel
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Ted Seaton and two friends had been detecting near Middleham Castle, England on a cold, wet day. As the three detectorists made their way back to the car with bags full of nothing more interesting than iron scrap, two of them weren't even switched on. Ted continued a pessimistic search so much so that he was tempted to ignore a faint signal at the edge of the bridleway. From 15" down he unearthed what appeared to be an old compact which joined the other rubbish in his bag.

It was only when he got home and washed the find that Ted realised what he had found. It was a gold pendant weighing 68 gm together with its blue sapphire stone which measures 12 mm x 10 mm and is 10 ct plus. A Trinity scene engraved on one surface of the diamond-shaped pendant has a border of highly-burnished gold surrounding a raised panel which gives a cameo effect and highlights the engraving.
The border carries a Latin inscription in Gothic style which identifies the pendant as a charm against falling sickness (epilepsy). Overall size of the amulet was 65 mm high, 59 mm wide and 10 mm deep.

In record-breaking time the discovery was adjudged not to be Treasure Trove. The amulet belongs to the period of Richard III and is almost certainly a reliquary containing perhaps a fragment of wood reputed to come from The Cross, or some other relic associated with Christ. This wonderful find was later sold at auction where it realised the incredible sum of 1.3 million. It has since changed hands for the sum of 2.5 million..