The final total was three times the pre-sale low estimate, which is staggering. Nigel Mills, a coin consultant at Noonans, said: 'The total for the sale was truly amazing with several buyers from USA and many from the UK competing for the coins. London auctioneers Noonans said it was rare to find a purse hoard containing gold coins, due to their monetary value. The monies will be shared with the landowner - Joan, however, is hoping to have a new kitchen from the proceeds.' Julian Evan-Hart, editor of Treasure Hunting magazine, said: 'Well done to Phil and Joan who have been detecting for 30 years. One of the five 'mint' condition gold coins The experience of the auction was wonderful and almost as exciting as finding the coins.' Mrs Castle said: 'We have just calmed down – we were watching the sale with our mouths open. The Castles, from New Romney, Kent, will split the proceeds of the sale with the landowner. And with fees added on the overall price paid for it was £50,600. Including the brass purse bar and the fragments of a sixth coin, the hoard sold for £39,550. Two sold for £9,000 each while the other two fetched £5,500 and £3,600 respectively. The five coins, which are all the same, were sold individually, with the highest price paid for one at £12,000. They were the highest denomination coins in circulation, with a face value of six shillings and eight pence, which is £2,500 in today's money. They were issued on behalf of King Edward III between 13, portraying the monarch in a ship holding a sword and shield. The 1.5ins diameter pieces were Noble coins - the first English gold coin produced in quantity. The couple rubbed off the mud to find the 700-year-old coins to be in mint condition.

Over the next two hours, she and 71-year-old husband Phil unearthed five gold coins in an area of just 16ft. Joan, 70, first located a broken forged gold coin on the surface then got a signal and dug down 8ins to discover the brass bar of a Medieval purse that had long disintegrated. Pensioners Phil and Joan Castle stumbled upon the 'purse hoard' with their metal detectors in a ploughed field at Romney Marsh, Kent. A treasure-hunting couple are planning on buying a new kitchen after selling a hoard of 14th Century gold coins they found for over £50,000.

Treasure gold coins