GOLD and silver treasure found by metal detectors in the county could be displayed at the Oxfordshire Museum.

A gold medieval ring, silver decoration for a sword, and silver seal matrix were among the finds by metal detectors in south Oxfordshire last year.

Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter ruled that each of the objects were classed as treasure at County Hall yesterday, because of their age and precious metal content.

The pieces are being held at the British Museum for the next couple of months until they have been valued.

Oxfordshire Museums Service – run by Oxfordshire County Council – has expressed interest in buying them to display at the Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock.

Finds liaison officer for Oxfordshire County Council and the British Museum, Anni Byard, said: “They would be great additions to the collection if the county is able to raise the money.

“They would probably end up at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock, but if say one of the items was found near Abingdon and the Abingdon museum wanted to borrow it we could lend it out to them.”

The gold medieval ring was found in September last year in a south Oxfordshire field; the silver-gilt sword decoration was found near Stanton St John the same month and the medieval silver seal matrix was found in Cholsey on August 18, 2012. It dates back to 1279 and is the seal of Wymund de Brandon, clerk for the Abbot of Preaux Abbey in France.

Neil White, 62, from Twickenham, who found it, said an independent valuation estimated its value at £6,000.

He added: “I was wandering up and down the field when I got a clear signal and dug it up.

“Everyone gathered around me and said ‘that’s treasure’.”