Medieval coin brooch found by metal detectorist could fetch thousands of pounds at auction

The silver coin brooch was minted in France in the 13th century and features a bearded bishop wearing a mitre or hat.

After the Norman Conquest and up until the reign of Edward III, England’s currency was made up entirely of silver pennies.

So when the French king Louis IX, later Saint Louis, minted a large silver coin called a gros tournois, it became fashionable for prosperous people to turn them into brooches.

"Most of the coin brooches we have turning up are made from the gros tournois, as they're invariably the commonest big silver coin," said Dr Marsden, from the Norfolk Historic Environment Service.

"And if you're having one of these silver coins made into a brooch, it's a substantial investment as they're worth two or three days' wages."

This find features a bearded Enguerrand, also known as Ingeramus de Crequy, wearing a bishop's mitre or hat.

Dr Marsden said this would not have happened in England.

"You do get bishops in charge of mints, but the coins would have had the king's head," he said.

"Generally, high-ranking people in France have more independence than in England - no English bishop would be allowed or dream of putting his head on a coin."

Little is written about Enguerrand, but whoever turned the coin into a brooch wanted to show his face, instead of the cross on its back to signal their piety.

A coroner will determine whether it is treasure and Norwich Castle Museum is interested in acquiring it.

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