A hoard of Civil War coins discovered near Bridport have sold for more than double their initial valuation.
It had been estimated that the coins, which are more than 400 years old, would be worth nearly £35,000 - but sold for an amazing £76,000 at Duke’s Auctioneers of Dorchester.
The coins are believed to have been buried between 1642 and 1644 during the English Civil War and contained a variety including James I and Charles I gold coins, silver half crowns, shillings and sixpences; Elizabeth I, Phillip and Mary silver shillings and sixpences.
The top lots included a Charles I gold unite crown coin, which sold for a staggering £6,250, another Charles I gold unite castle coin sold for £4,750, a Charles I gold double crown coin sold for £4,250 and Charles I silver shillings sold for £4,000.
The entire collection was snapped up by bidders in person, online and via telephone
A spokesperson for Duke's said: "The sale total was more than the estimate of around £30,000 and there was some great bidding on the phone and in the room and the vendor is very very pleased.
"It’s a great story, being local it is fantastic."
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