ITEMS that had not seen the light of day for hundreds of years have been declared as treasure.

Yesterday, Wiltshire Coroner David Masters seized two separate treasure troves in the name of the Crown.

The first inquest concerned a find of 29 groats and 29 pennies that date back to the reigns of Edward I (1239-1307) and Edward IV (1442-1483).

The coins were found in Chiseldon on July 24 last year by Ray Stone and members of his family.

The inquest heard that all but nine of the coins were found in the same part of the field. The others were found several metres away.

A report said all the coins were produced at a time when currency contained 92.5 per cent silver.

One of the pennies, dating back to the reign of Edward IV, was found to be a forgery.

Declaring the find, Mr Masters said he was grateful to Mr Stone for alerting the Finds Liaison Officer so quickly.

"Without you and other conscientious metal detectorists doing this, our heritage is lost," he said. "We are very grateful to you."

It is thought the Swindon Museum is interested in acquiring the coins.

The second inquest determined that a medieval silver gilt ring brooch was treasure.

It was found in a field in Winterbourne Bassett by Jack Tree, who was taking part in a charity metal detecting event in April 2005.

The brooch, which dates back to the 13th century, was described as "smashing" by the coroner.

Mr Tree, of Milford Haven, told the court he had travelled to the event, organised by the Devizes Round Table, as part of the Pembroke Prospectors metal detecting club.

"We were basically going up and down a huge ploughed field," said the 68-year-old.

"I had had a couple of signals. The organisers tend to seed tokens in the fields as there are often a lack of natural finds.

"If your token is drawn at the end of the day you win a prize."

Mr Tree said he suddenly got a sharp signal on his detector, close to the surface, and unearthed the brooch.

"I picked it out and thought gracious me'," he said.

"These type of items are found quite often, but not with the pin still in tact."

At first he thought the brooch was made of bronze so did not report the find, but when he washed the mud off and realised it was silver, he contacted the Finds Liaison Officer.

Mr Masters said it gave him great pleasure to seize the brooch in the name of the Crown and said that he believed the Devizes branch of the British Museum was interested in it.

Mr Masters will now send a report on both treasure troves to the British Museum, whose specialist valuations committee will examine and value them.

This will form the reward which be divided between the finders and the landowners.