Four silver coins dating from the reign of William the Conqueror were unearthed by a metal detectorist making a last sweep of a Somerset field.

The silver Sceptres, dating from 1072-1074, were found by Paul Howett of Minehead as he searched the field near Williton as dusk fell.

Analysis of the coins, fused together and damaged, showed they were minted at Shaftesbury, probably by a moneyer named Aelnoth.

No other coins of the exact type found have been attributed to Aelnoth, although he is known to have minted coins from a later series.