Detector detected the largest hoard of counterfeit coins

The largest hoard of counterfeit coins to date was discovered by metal detectorist John McGimpsey (64) in a field in North Staffordshire. Specifically, 332 coins buried by a forger 220 years ago. The man from England only started searching with a detector during the covid pandemic.

Along with his four brothers. The elderly man, who works as a screenwriter, found the treasure in a field in the Leek area of Staffordshire. He immediately contacted the finds officer concerned and the owners of the land, who also own an equestrian centre. Currently, the depot has already been declared a treasure trove and is being catalogued.

McGimpsey claims that the British Museum and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery are interested in the treasure. The value of the coins is not yet known, but any profit from the sale will be split with the owner of the land where the counterfeit money was discovered.

"I picked up a signal between two trees, so I started digging. I almost gave up, but suddenly I saw an object in the hole I had dug. After a while I realised it was coins, some were even still wrapped in paper," the prospector recalled.

Experts subsequently discovered that the coins had been buried in 1801 by the famous forger Georg Fearnsem. He was caught counterfeiting money by two undercover officers during a raid on a pub. He lived in a house near the field where the forger found the counterfeit coins. Although the police didn't find the coins 200 years ago, they had enough evidence to prosecute this notorious criminal. He was eventually hanged in Stafford Gaol.

The depot found contains exactly 332 half crowns, shillings and sixpences with the bust of King William III on one side and King George II on the reverse. They appear to have been wrapped in old bank notes. Experts have analysed a small piece of paper from the discovered depot.

When McGimpsey discovered the coins, he called colleague Tony Cummins, a seasoned detectorist and member of the Midland Detecting Days Club. Tony then drove to the site to help.

"When we found more coins, we piled them all into a backpack. We were overwhelmed by the amount of coins. Most of them were glued together and when we took a good look at them it was clear they were fakes. Then Tony noticed something really strange, all the coins had William III on them, but on the other side was George II," said the depot finder.

Sources: www.stokesentinel.co.uk