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Metal detectorist's shock at 15th Century baby Jesus ring find Metal detectorist finds rare 15th Century Madonna and Child ring
(2 days later)
Matthew Hepworth said the historic find was a "dream come true" Matthew Hepworth said the find was a "dream come true"
A metal detectorist has told of his "shock" after finding a gold ring engraved with baby Jesus which is believed to be more than 500 years old. Finding a rare six-centuries-old ring engraved with the Madonna and Child has left a metal detectorist in "shock".
Matthew Hepworth, 48, found the rare oval ring which also features the Virgin Mary in a field in Lancaster. Matthew Hepworth came across the oval gold ring, which depicts the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus, while searching in a field in Lancaster.
The nurse, of Morecambe, Lancashire, said the "once in a lifetime" find was thought to date back to the 1400s. The 48-year-old nurse, from Morecambe, said the "once in a lifetime" find was thought to date from the 1400s.
An inquest will later rule whether it is treasure but Mr Hepworth hopes it will end up in a local museum. An inquest will rule on whether it will be classed as treasure, but he said he hoped it will end up in a local museum.
The father-of-two told the BBC: "I am over the moon about it. I was so shocked to find it. The nurse said he had been "metal detecting for more than 30 years and this is a once in a lifetime find"
"I have been metal detecting for more than 30 years and this is a once in a lifetime find. The father-of-two said he was "over the moon about it".
The ring just after it was dug out of the ground "I was so shocked to find it," he said.
"It's a dream come true. It tops everything and is a very rare find for the UK." "I have been metal detecting for more than 30 years and this is a once in a lifetime find."
Mr Hepworth told the field's landlord who was "gobsmacked" by the discovery which came after a faint sound on his metal detector. He said the discovery was "a dream come true", adding: "It tops everything and is a very rare find for the UK."
He has also informed the finds officer and Lancaster City Museum after the discovery earlier this month. The oval ring featured an image known as the Madonna and Child, which depicts the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus
The oval ring featuring baby Jesus and the Virgin Mary He said he unearthed the ring after hearing a faint sound on his metal detector and that when he told the landowner about it, they were "gobsmacked".
He has since informed the local finds officer and Lancaster City Museum about the discovery, which he found a few weeks ago.
The Lune Valley Detecting Club member said it was a "privilege" to have "salvaged a piece of history from the ground".The Lune Valley Detecting Club member said it was a "privilege" to have "salvaged a piece of history from the ground".
The charge nurse also in the past found a Bronze Age burial site in 2016 and a silver seal depicting a slave. He said it was his best find yet, beating other prized discoveries such as a Bronze Age burial site in 2016 and a silver seal depicting a slave.
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