'Rare' 14th Century gold coin found in secret drawer in Derbyshire

The 14th Century gold coin was discovered inside one of three secret drawers in a wooden bureau

A "rare" 650-year-old coin has been found in a secret drawer in a desk left to a woman by a long-lost relative.

The 14th Century coin was discovered inside one of three hidden drawers in a 20th Century bureau.

Amy Clapp, from Derbyshire, inherited the piece of furniture from a great cousin and had taken it to be valued.

Don Collins, of Hansons Auctioneers, said the 22-carat coin was "very unusual" and he had "never seen one exactly like it" in more than 50 years.

Experts believe the Raymond IV Prince of Orange Franc A Pied, dating back to 1365, could fetch double the guide price of £1,200 to £1,800 when it is auctioned in March.

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Mrs Clapp, 37, said she did not remember meeting her distant relative and had "no idea" the coin or the secret drawers existed when she took the George II-style bureau for a valuation.

Furniture valuer Edward Rycroft found the coin in the 20th Century George II-style drawer

Edward Rycroft, from the auction house in Etwall, Derbyshire, said: "I know bureaus like this often have tiny, secret drawers - sometimes called coin drawers - so I always check them just in case.

"But in 10 years of valuing furniture I have never found anything in them, until now."

Mr Rycroft said he knew straight away the coin was "really special".

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"It's the most amazing thing I have ever found by chance," he added.

Mrs Clapp said she "would never have found that in a million years" and hoped to donate some of the sale proceeds to a charity.

The wooden bureau is due to go under the hammer on Wednesday estimated at about £80, while the coin will be auctioned separately next month.

A visible drawer reveals another tiny drawer tucked away behind it