The 23-carat leopard was discovered with another gold coin, called a noble, near Reepham, BBC News reports.

Helen Geake, finds liaison officer,  said the leopard was withdrawn within months of being minted in 1344 and “hardly any have survived”.

She said the coins were equivalent to £12,000 today and would have been owned by someone “at the top of society”.

The coins, called a florin, a leopard and a helm, were minted in early 1344, but withdrawn within months.