A ROMAN silver stud up to 1,900 years old was found by a metal detector enthusiast.

It may now be acquired by the British Museum after a coroner ruled it should be classed as treasure.

Mike Cuddeford was searching land at Wixoe, near Haverhill, when he made the discovery.

Dr Peter Dean, Greater Suffolk Coroner, ruled the find was treasure at an inquest in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday.

The British Museum is interested in acquiring the stud, and a finder's fee will be divided between Mr Cuddeford and the landowner.

John Newman, an archaeologist at Suffolk County Council, described the find as "moderately unusual" and said around six similar ones were found each year.

He expected the stud, which depicts a boar, to be valued at hundreds rather than thousands of pounds, and the finder's fee would be 50 per cent of this.

Mr Newman told the inquest the stud, which was found in August and is 10 millimetres in diameter, could have been one of a set.

He said: "It is quite a high quality item which a good silversmith has produced for somebody quite well to do to wear on an apron or belt.

"It could well have been one of a set. It is certainly Roman and it could be 1,700, 1,800 or 1,900 years old."

Dr Dean ruled that a Tudor silver gilt dress hook found near Stowmarket and 26 Bronze Age copper artefacts found near Bury St Edmunds were also treasure.

He said: "Whilst most of our time is spent investigating sudden deaths, the historic roots of these medieval duties still exist.

"It gives a fascinating glimpse of the historic background of this area. It is an important part of the Treasure Act that it preserves these finds that might otherwise have been lost, and gives museums a chance to acquire them."