THE group which runs Auckland Castle has expressed an interest in a 665-year-old silver metal badge found by a metal detectorist.

Graeme Thompson, 50, of Darlington, found the small M-shaped object while out as part of a session with the Quaker Acres Metal Detecting Club on December 15, 2013.

The badge was uncovered on land between West Auckland and Etherley, in County Durham, at about 3pm as the group’s session came to an end.

British Museum experts dated the piece as medieval and from between 1350 and 1550, a treasure trove inquest held at Crook, County Durham, today (Thursday, February 12), heard.

Members of the metal detecting club tried to trace the history of the piece. They thought it was quite rare to find one in silver as most found are brass or pewter.

Mr Thompson, who has been with the club for three years, said: “It’s always nice to find a small object that has some history behind it.

“Then it’s nice to try to research it to find out what it might be.

“I didn’t know what this was at the time but we looked on the internet and discovered that it was medieval.”

Coroner Andrew Tweddle heard that Auckland Castle Trust, in Bishop Auckland, was interested in the piece but it is not known how much the object is worth.

Dr Chris Ferguson, of curator director Auckland Castle, said: “We’ve expressed an interest through the normal process.

“It’s a really interesting local example of the significant faith history of the North-East and the also of the emergence of the Virgin Mary in the medieval period.

“We would be delighted if this was to end up as part of our exhibition.”

Mr Tweddle ruled that the silver medieval object was treasure.