GAZETTE & HERALD: THE Crown's treasure coffers have been boosted after not one, but two, medieval rings were declared as treasure after being unearthed by metal detecting enthusiasts in north Wiltshire.

A silver finger ring found by Colerne treasure hunter Tony Mims and an inscribed gold ring found by Chris Chandler, near Chippenham, were both the subject of an inquest in Devizes on Friday.

Inquests are held to determine whether such finds should be classed as treasure and therefore whether or not they are seized by the Crown. On Friday Wiltshire coroner David Masters decided that both rings were treasure.

Mr Mims, a 48-year-old lorry driver from Pinewood Way, Colerne, unearthed the 15th century silver ring at a farm in Malmesbury in August 2003.

"Because it's more than 300 years old and it's silver I declared it as treasure and I seize it on behalf of the Crown," said a smiling Mr Masters to Mr Mims.

The ring, which measures 25mm in diameter and has an octagonal face with a pearl border, was described by Mr Masters as a "really smashing ring".

The Wiltshire Heritage Museum has expressed an interest in buying it and a treasure valuation committee will now offer them a price.

If the museum accepts the price then Mr Mims will receive a reward depending on its value. That reward will then be split between Mr Mims and the landowner where the ring was found a condition agreed upon when Mr Mims was given permission to search the land.

Speaking afterwards former soldier Mr Mims, who started detecting in 1974, said: "I had it valued at around £500 so once that's split in half it's not too bad I suppose, but we'll have to wait and see."

The gold medieval ring was found by Chris Chandler, 41, of Cardiff, in the parish of Kington St Michael, near Chippenham in February last year.

Chippenham Museum has expressed an interest in obtaining the 13th century ring, which is inscribed with the words Ave Maria gracia plena, the Latin for hail Mary full of grace in Latin.

In February Mr Chandler had a gold stirrup ring set with a sapphire which he also found near Chippenham declared as treasure and has another gold ring currently in the hands of the British Museum.