Coin badges from the reigns of Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror discovered

Experts have described it as a coin badge rather than brooch because the 18mm (0.7in)-round piece was not for fastening clothes

A coin badge thought to have belonged to an Anglo-Saxon Christian devotee has been discovered by a metal detectorist in North Yorkshire.

The silver-gilt piece, which is about 18mm (0.7in) in diameter, was found near Helmsley by Ms Rogerson, who has been detecting for about 10 years.

It is believed to date back to the 11th Century and was minted during the reign of Edward the Confessor, who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England before being succeeded by William the Conqueror following the Norman Invasion.

The coin badge, which is now set to go on display at the Yorkshire Museum in York, features a cross design on the reverse and the words "EDPARD RX ANGL" on the other side, indicating it was minted in York by a man called Snebern.

It is thought the coin badge may have been made at the mint, rather than being taken to a silversmith for adaption, due to the popularity of coin badges during Edward's reign.

Coin badges minted in York during Edward's reign are also said to be more unusual finds than those minted elsewhere.

"It is interesting that coins converted in such a specific way date to the reigns of Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror, with a concentration in a period of 10 years," said Ms Rogerson.

"She said experts described it as a coin badge rather than brooch because the 18mm (0.7in)-round piece was not for fastening clothes but was designed to be purely decorative - as well as devotional.

"They all have the cross design on the reverse but all the examples we know of have the reverse showing, so it was definitely worn an act of Christian devotion," she said.