64 year year old van driver Ray Pusey from Haddenham dug up an ancient Celtic Chieftain’s chariot brooch in October last year.
And last month, it smashed its auction estimate to smithereens to sell for seven times its guide price.
The ‘outstandingly rare’ object, also known as a horse brooch, was guided at £6,000-£8,000 by Hansons Auctioneers but an intense bidding battle took the final hammer price to £55,000.
The result has been hailed as one of Hansons’ best ever by the firm’s owner Charles Hanson. He led the auction as four phone bidders battled to secure the unique object, which was found by detectorist Ray Pusey in Buckinghamshire.
Ray, who has 30 years metal detecting experience, confessed that he nearly didn’t go out the day he found it but, after an hour of searching, received a strong signal. He describes the brooch as his ‘best find ever’.
He said: “I was really pleased. It was an exceptional result and so exciting to watch. The money will be split 50/50 split with the landowner and, when I went round to tell him, he nearly fell over. Me and my wife are having a Chinese to celebrate tonight.”
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