Brisbane tradie finds rare gold coin with metal detector

A tradie from Brisbane was shocked to discover a rare hidden treasure hiding beneath a tree with the help of his metal detector.

A Brisbane tradie and metal detector enthusiast has discovered a rare gold coin that could be worth a fortune.

Wayne Ryan’s jaw dropped when he stumbled across an 1885 gold sovereign coin featuring Queen Victoria during a routine metal detecting search in his local area on Saturday night.

Heading up the Virgin Grounds Metal Detecting Facebook group, he’s no stranger to finding treasures underground.

The Brisbane tradie found the rare gold coin with a metal detector.

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After digging around some tree roots when his metal detector started to ping, he was caught off guard this time.

“When I first pulled it out I thought it was a dollar coin and then I wiped it off with my thumbs and it was just utter shock,” he told Channel 9.

“I dropped to my knees. It was a very special moment.”

He has uncovered around 200 historic coins in his metal detecting missions and said that this is, by far, his biggest find.

The 1885 gold sovereign coin featuring Queen Victoria.

He thought it was a $1 coin when he first saw it.

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The 40-year-old discovered the 22-carat gold coin which was minted in Sydney and could be worth thousands of dollars.

At the time it was lost, it would have been a week’s wages, according to auctioneer and imperial coins expert Rick Coleman.

On weight alone it’s estimated to be worth around $650, but given its historical significance it’s worth much more, according to the auctioneer.

He added that it was a “very unusual” find for Queensland.

Wayne Ryan discovered the coin when he was searching around some tree roots.

We’ll probably find a buyer for it for $1000 without any trouble at all,” the auctioneer said.

But Wayne plans to hold onto the coin tightly and add it to his growing coin collection.

Originally published as Brisbane tradie finds rare gold coin with metal detector