Anthony Gill, who has been "detectoring" for more than 30 years, discovered two pieces of the silver brooch buried at farmland in Steyning in April and the 16 copper alloy coins on downland in Storrington in June.

And at two inquests at Worthing Town Hall on Tuesday (November 18), West Sussex Coroner Penelope Schofield gave the verdict both finds were treasure.

Speaking after the inquests, Mr Gill said several of his other finds have prompted treasure inquests.

"The first was in 1980, when I found some silver coins in Watford.

"It's not often you find items that go to treasure inquests, but there's a lot of things that you dig up out of the ground — lots of rubbish as well as lots of interesting items.

"I go out detecting whenever I can really."

At the first inquest, the court heard Mr Gill discovered two pieces of the brooch after getting permission from farm owners in Steyning to search their land on April 22.

Mr Gill reported the discovery to the Sussex Archaeological Society and the Sussex Finds Liaison Officer and the fragments were then taken to the British Museum for tests.

It is believed the brooch may have been broken over the years by farm ploughs.

Steyning Museum is interested in having the brooch.

A second inquest was held on 16 Roman coins he found buried 16in underground on downland at Storrington in June.

As he always does, Mr Gill got permission from the landowner before he searched.

He contacted the Sussex Archaeological Socity and Sussex Finds Liaison Officer after discovering the copper alloy coins and they were taken to the British Museum.

They date back to between 260AD and 285AD.

Storrington Museum has expressed an interest in having the coins.

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