Penny worth £15,000 among treasures found beneath the nation's feet

NMS curator Alice Blackwell inspect the David I penny which was discovered in Midlothian and valued at £15,000 | Treasure Trove

A rare silver penny of King David I worth £15,000, an Iron Age ring and a gold Roman coin struck for Emperor Vitellius are among the most recent treasures found by metal detectorists in Scotland.

The relics are among 1,300 finds reported to the Treasure Trove system, which ensures that discovered objects of cultural significance are protected and preserved in museums across the country.

The Roman gold aureus of Vitellius found in West Dunbartonshire | TT

The finds were revealed at an event hosted the King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer (KLTR) with Trimontium Museum and Trust in Melrose.

The event brought together finders, museum professionals, archaeologists and heritage organisations to celebrate discoveries that continue to expand our understanding of Scotland's past.

Roman Iron Age terret ring found in Lockerbie | TT

The David I coin, found in Midlothian and now with National Museums Scotland, was the most valuable in monetary tems, with a gold Roman aureus of Emperor Vitellius valued at £6,500 and a Pictish Class I symbol stone from Golspie valued at £3,000 . The Iron Age ring, discovered in Lockerbie, is now in Annan Museum.

John Logue, King's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer, said: "Scotland's history is still being uncovered. From a rare royal coin to Roman gold and medieval hoards, these discoveries are helping to rewrite what we know about Scotland's past. Through the Treasure Trove system, finders, museums and archaeologists work together to uncover, preserve and share remarkable new chapters of our national story."