Metal detectorist strikes gold with '$32,000' 15th century ring

A 15^th century gold ring unearthed in a farmer's field could make a metal detectorist a tidy sum next month.

John Stevens discovered the ring in a field in Fleckney, Leicestershire in July 2008.

The gold ring contains a pointed crystal and is inscribed in Gothic script with "amour mi tien" (love keep me).

It will be auctioned at Bonhams on April 13 and is expected to make between £15,000 and £20,000 with collectors and investors vying for the piece.

"I was just walking to the car with [the metal detector] on the floor when I got a signal and dug it up," Stevens told the BBC.

"My friend said, 'Oh, it looks like you've got a bit of gold paper'. I pulled it out and it was that gold ring. Quite a shock really."

This Leicestershire beauty could sell for £20,000

Leicestershire is no stranger to buried treasure. The Battle of Bosworth took place within the boundaries of the county in 1485 and items such as lead shots, pendants and dagger rondels were found in 2009 following an archaeological survey by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The profits from the ring sale will be shared between Stevens and the landowner.