AN anonymous donor has given a "rare and wonderful" ancient coin to Museums Worcestershire.

The donation of the 2000-year-old gold coin saw Christmas come early for museum staff, who were left in tears of joy by the "special" gift.

The inscribed Iron Age gold stater, which was produced in about AD 20-40 in the last years before the Roman conquest, was discovered by metal detectorists in the Droitwich area.

Angie Bolton, finds liaison officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Worcestershire, which works with people who discover rare objects, said: "This Iron Age coin is so special in many ways.

"It was found by two metal detectorists who record their finds with us, changing what we know of Iron Age and Roman Worcestershire.

"The fact that the curator cried when she heard of the donation shows how special it is - Christmas came early to Museums Worcestershire."

Deborah Fox, curator of archaeology and natural history at Museums Worcestershire, added: "We've been collecting archaeological finds at Museums Worcestershire since the 1830s and in those 180 years we have only acquired two gold Iron Age staters.

"They are a real rarity so this donation is overwhelming.

"We're so grateful for the finder's passion and professionalism and the donor's generosity."

The gold coin, which has been studied by curators at the British Museum, is a coin of the Western Regional series.

It is thought to have been produced by the Dobunni tribe, who inhabited Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties including Worcestershire during the Iron Age.

The coin features a tree or branch on one side and a triple-tailed horse on the reverse.

It will be on display at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum in the new year.