Treasure hunters strike gold after years of disappointment with find worth a fortune

Two metal detectorists recently struck gold — literally — after finding three Bronze Age gold bracelets worth six figures.

The detectorists, Alan Daniels, 48, and Andy Crammond, 34, found the bracelets near Carlisle, England in May, Bournemouth News and Picture Service (BNPS) reported.

Images show the bracelets — also called torcs — in remarkable condition.

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The bracelets date back to roughly 1100 B.C., and have a combined weight of 18.27 ounces, or 1.14 pounds. They're estimated to be worth roughly $400,000, according to BNPS.

"Gold doesn't tarnish at all, and they came out of the ground just the same as when they went in over 3,000 years ago," Daniels said.

Speaking to BNPS, Crammond joked about almost having a heart attack when he found the first one just a few inches under freshly ploughed soil.

He alerted Daniels, who searched the area and soon found a second one.

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Daniels later found a third torc about 20 feet away from the others.

"Detectorists dream of these things and that is how it still feels, like a dream," said Crammond, per BNPS.

"I'm waiting for someone to come out of the woodwork and say they aren't real. It is the find of multiple lifetimes."

Daniels told BNPS this is the first time he's found a valuable item.

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"We have been detecting together now for a few years," he said.

"We have never found anything valuable before and always come home disappointed — until now."

The hobbyist initially thought that the excursion might be a waste of time.

"After about two hours, all we had found were some bits of aluminum cans," Daniels said.

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"We changed fields. ... I went off in one direction and Andy in the other. After a short while, I saw the figure of Andy out of the corner of my eye walking toward me [with the treasure]," added Daniels.

The torcs are being assessed by the British Museum.

A coroner will ultimately determine whether the torcs legally qualify as treasure under British law. 

If they do, a museum or institution could buy them at market value, with the proceeds shared among Crammond, Daniels and the landowner.

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If no buyer comes forward, the torcs could be returned to the finders to sell at auction.

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Metal detecting has turned up some striking ancient finds in recent months.

Earlier this summer, a metal detectorist discovered a remarkably preserved 2,700-year-old bronze sword standing upright in the ground in northern Poland.

In Australia earlier this year, a metal detectorist who was exploring a former Gold Rush-era campsite discovered an unusual coin at an abandoned sports field.