By Rory Tingle For Mailonline
Published: 15:12 BST, 12 June 2019 | Updated: 15:23 BST, 12 June 2019
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A treasure hunter found a gold ring that had been buried in the ground for 600 years - only to lose it the next day while throwing his dog a stick.
Gary Smith, 42, was delighted when he plucked the medieval ring worth between £600 and £1,000 from a muddy farmer's field in Hampshire while out with his metal detector.
He wore the ring on his finger the next day to show his parents, but as he was walking to their house with his dog Ben it fell off while he was bending down to pick up a stick.
Gary Smith, 42, was delighted when he plucked the medieval ring worth between £600 and £1,000 from a muddy farmer's field in Hampshire while out with his metal detector
He wore the ring (pictured) on his finger the next day to show his parents, but as he was walking to their house with his dog Ben it fell off while he was bending down to pick up a stick
It took Mr Smith a few minutes to realise it was gone before he spent over an hour searching the park in Bournemouth, Dorset, for it to no avail.
Fortunately, the story had a happy ending as Mr Smith later returned with his trusty detector and found the ring for second time hidden in deep grass.
Mr Smith is now taking greater care of the silver-gilt iconographic-style ring before it is collected by his local finds liaison officer (FLO).
Under the Treasure Act 1996, finders of potential treasure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are legally obliged to notify their local coroner
An inquest then determines whether the finds constitute treasure. This includes -
Hoards of two or more
