A RARE Anglo-Saxon coin, found by a metal detector enthusiast, has fetched £3,200 at an auction in Ipswich.The pale gold Thrymsa coin, which dates back to 655AD and is thought to be one of only 15 ever found, was bought at the 47th Lockdales of Ipswich auction held at the Novotel in Greyfriars Road.

A RARE Anglo-Saxon coin, found by a metal detector enthusiast, has fetched £3,200 at an auction in Ipswich.

The pale gold Thrymsa coin, which dates back to 655AD and is thought to be one of only 15 ever found, was bought at the 47th Lockdales of Ipswich auction held at the Novotel in Greyfriars Road.

Bidding started at £2,000 but buyers keen to own a piece of East Anglian history pushed the final figure up over the £3,000 mark.

The coin features a depiction of Emperor Constantine pledging on a cross - a message of Christianity from a time when much of Britain was Pagan.

James Sadler, of Lockdales, said the final figure had exceeded their expectations.

He said: "We had thought it might go for nearly £3,000 so to get more was very good.

"A gentleman kept his hand up and pushed the price higher and higher. It's very rare to sell a coin like this in this area."

The coin had originally been found in Norfolk.

Another big-money purchase was made to buy a collection of First World War posthumous gallantry medals, with one bidder splashing out £7,000 on the lot.

Several other items also went under the hammer. A signed photograph of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip from 1975 made £430 while several Ipswich Town Football Club programmes and England ticket stubs dating back as far as the 1920s went for around £50 individually.

More than 500 people turned out for the auction and, although Lockdales could not put a figure on how much was spent throughout the day, it is thought the total will run into tens of thousands.