One side of the decoration is decorated with a Tudor rose entwined with a bushy pomegranate that grows on the same branch. The reverse side is engraved with the letters H and K for Henry and Katherine. Both parties are signed TOVS + IORS below, a pun on the French word “toujours” meaning “always”.

Still new to finding metals, when Clark found the gem, he consulted an expert from Regton, a Birmingham shop, and contacted the British Museum to report his find.

Rachel King, curator of Renaissance works at the British Museum, felt the need to sit down when she heard about the discovery, she told CNN. He wondered if it was a genuine artifact, and once the medallion was taken to the British Museum, an analysis was made to make sure it was indeed Tudor.

One of King’s tests dated the jewel to 1530. The curator and her team speculate that the medallion may have been given as a prize or worn during a tournament or joust that Henry usually organized.

The medallion could change Clark’s life once it’s sold. He hopes to use the money for the future education of his 4-year-old son.

According to the British Museum, 45,581 archaeological finds were recorded in 2021, 96% of which were discovered by people with metal detectors.

CNN source