Coins dating back around 650 years have been found in Greater Manchester. As well dealing with deaths, coroners are sometimes tasked with deciding whether historical finds are 'treasure' and were legitimately found.
This week, north Manchester coroner Julie Mitchell presided over a hearing concerning four coins discovered by detectorist Mark Wilkinson in Bury on April 16 last year.
Rochdale Coroners' Court did not hear exactly where they were found. That information is kept secret to protect the land from other would-be treasure hunters.
The court heard Mr Wilkinson has been metal detecting for four years after retiring. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community He's spent many hours searching plots in Bury and Lancashire but Mr Wilkinson hit the jackpot last year, finding a gold Half-Noble coin of King Edward III; two Edward III silver groats; and a silver Scottish Groat of Edward II.