A COLLECTION of historical coins found buried under the floor of a Dorset cottage has sold for £60,000.

The hoard, of more than 1,000 gold and silver coins, was discovered by Robert and Becky Fooks at their home in South Poorton.

Robert was digging a patch of earth floor in the cottage they are renovating when he came across a pottery bowl.

The coins were found in a pottery bowl, buried under the floor

Much to his surprise, he found it contained the coins – which included examples from the reigns of Charles I, Edward VI and Elizabeth I.

On Tuesday (April 23), the collection went under the hammer at Duke’s Auctioneers, in Dorchester, selling for a total of £60,000.

Among the most sought after pieces were a Charles I gold unite crown coin, which sold for £5,000, and a Charles I gold double crown, which went for £3,400.

A Charles I gold unite crown was sold for £5,000. Picture: Duke’s