Metal detector enthusiast Dave Crisp is delighted his name will be associated with one of the biggest finds of Roman coins in Britain.

The 63-year-old, of Waylands, Devizes, became a media star after the story of his find of more than 52,000 coins in a field in Frome captured interest around the world.

He said: “I think I have done 15 interviews and I can honestly say I have really enjoyed myself. I did a phone interview with a journalist in Canada and live interviews with the BBC and ITV for television from my garden.”

Mr Crisp, a chef at Chippenham Hospital, has been metal detecting for 22 years and this is his most significant find.

It is believed the coins, dating back to the third century AD, will be worth £250,000 but Mr Crisp said he is more interested in being part of history.

Mr Crisp, who is married with a daughter and three grandchildren, said:“Money’s money. I’m more interested in the finds. At the end of the day you are saving history. Every time you dig up a Roman brooch or coin it’s not disintegrating into the ground. Whatever I receive, my family will help me spend it.”

The value will be determined by the British Museum after it is expected the coins will be declared treasure at an inquest in Somerset on July 22. Mr Crisp said he will split the reward with the landowner.

He discovered the coins in April after his detector gave a “funny signal”. He dug down about 18 inches and found the top of a pot and pulled out a little Radial, a bronze Roman coin.

He reported the find and about a week later an archaeological dig began.

Mr Crisp said he was nervous about leaving the coins there.

He said: “A couple of times I drove past the field and walked into it to look over to where the coins were. I realised no one else had been detecting since I found it. It was illogical to go back, the coins had been in the ground for 1,800 years so no one was going to walk over it in the next week but I wanted to check.”

The dig took three days and on the first night Mr Crisp and his 17-year-old grandson, Aaron King, also of Waylands, slept at the site in a tent. They were astounded at the number of coins in the pot.

Mr Crisp said: “When I found the coins I didn’t know what size the pot was. I thought it would be small but it was more like a beer barrel. I had seen hoards before but nothing like this.”

Mr Crisp is secretary of Trowbridge Metal Detect-ing Club and goes out at least once a week. He has permission from landowners to search 15 sites across the county.

His wife Shirley, a retired cleaner at Devizes Hospital, said: “When he came home from finding the coins he couldn’t talk, he was so excited. He was chuffed and he is still on cloud nine.”

The couple have been married for 36 years and Mrs Crisp has no objections to her husband’s hobby. She said: “Metal detecting is Dave’s hobby and he enjoys it. If he’s happy, I’m happy.”

Mrs Crisp went with her husband on a couple of metal detecting rallies, but never again.

She said: “I went to a couple of rallies and I was absolutely bored silly. I sat in the tent while he and his friends were detecting. I prefer watching horse racing on the TV.