A British man who found a massive cache of ancient Roman gold and silver coins while hunting with a metal detector has a lot more modern currency in his pocket after the treasure was auctioned off for $176,000. 

George Ridgway, a trained archaeologist, investigated an unusual marking in a recently harvested field in Suffolk, England in September 2019, according to a news release from Noonans Auctions. He knew that a Roman road had once run close to the field, and thought there might be something to find.

Hours scouring the area turned up nothing, he said, but when he shifted his position by just 30 yards, he found two Roman brooches that dated back to the 1st century. Shortly after, he found a silver coin issued by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Another three hours of searching turned up 160 more silver coins and some pottery fragments. 

“I knew I had made an important archaeological discovery and called my dad to guard the site overnight while we waited for an archaeological team to arrive and excavate the site,” the 34-year-old said. “It took three months to recover the hoard.” 

During that excavation, researchers found even more coins, including gold pieces. In total, 748 coins, dated from as early as 206 B.C., were recovered. Alice Cullen, a coin specialist at the auction house, said it was one of the largest hoards of Iron Age and Roman coins found in the United Kingdom. The coins may have been buried by a long-serving soldier in Rome’s XX Legion, who were once stationed in what would later be known as Colchester, England, Cullen said. There was a “fierce battle” in the area around 47 A.D., Cullen said, and a victim of the conflict may have been the person who buried the coins. 

Sixty-three of the coins were claimed by the British Museum and the Colchester & Ipswich Museum, to be displayed in their collections, and the rest were auctioned. While the auction house expected the sale to garner about $100,000, it actually brought in more than $176,000, according to CBS News partner the BBC. 

A coin issued by Gaius Caesar – also known as Caligula – decorated with a portrait of the Empress Agrippina and dated to A.D. 37-38 sold for about $9,295, according to the BBC. Another coin, issued by Claudius and dated to A.D. 41-42, sold for about $6,640. 

Ridgway said the proceeds of the sale will be split between himself and the landowner of the site where the coins were found. He said that such a find has been like a dream come true. 

“I was inspired by my childhood hero Indiana Jones to start history hunting when I was 4 years old, and I dreamed of finding a Roman hoard since my grandmother bought me a metal detector for my 12th birthday,” Ridgway said. “It was an awe-inspiring moment when I realised that I had found one!”

One of the world’s best-known online personalities is facing a lawsuit.

Jimmy Donaldson, better known as “MrBeast,” is a 26-year-old YouTube star with more than 300 million subscribers. He’s built an empire offering huge prizes to viewers on his videos.

The proposed class action lawsuit accuses MrBeast’s production company and Amazon Studios of “chronic mistreatment” and sexual harassment of contestants in an upcoming reality show. The plaintiffs also claim to be considered employees, not contestants, and dispute wages in the lawsuit.

Legal battle details

Five unnamed contestants in the upcoming Amazon reality show “Beast Games” are alleging MrBeast’s production company and Amazon Studios created a “toxic and hostile” environment, that “laid the groundwork” for sexual harassment, according to the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs cite an alleged production guide called “How to succeed in MrBeast Production,” which they say encourages obscenities and directs staff to “do everything” to “help” the talent “be idiots.”

The contestants also claim they were forced to endure “unsafe” conditions with a lack of access to medical care, food and water, and say they weren’t paid a fair wage.

“You can call them whatever you want to, but if they meet the definition of an employee, it doesn’t matter what you title them,” Lizelle Brandt, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said. “Our argument is that they are employees under California law.”

Amazon Studios and MrBeast’s production company declined to comment.

“The hope, dream and expectation that you will get a payment is not the same thing as being an employee,” said CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson. “There’s a real legal battle here that the plaintiffs will have to convince a judge that this group who signed on to be part of a show should be considered as employees, not contestants.”

Previous allegations

The accusations come after YouTuber Jake Weddle, who claims to be a former MrBeast employee, alleged mental abuse during a 100-day isolation challenge.

“It got to the point where they weren’t turning the lights off,” Weddle said. “You know I asked them. I said, ‘Could we have like nighttime hours, you know?’ They said ‘No.'”

Donaldson, 26, has previously faced allegations of racism and inappropriate comments.

“When Jimmy was a teenager he acted like many kids and used inappropriate language while trying to be funny,” a spokesperson for the YouTuber said in a statement to The Associated Press when the allegations surfaced. “Over the years, he has repeatedly apologized and has learned that increasing influence comes with increased responsibility to be more aware and more sensitive to the power of language. After making some bad jokes and other mistakes when he was younger, as an adult he has focused on engaging with the MrBeast community to work together on making a positive impact around the world.”

Mark the dates, clear your schedule and prepare your spending budget, because Amazon has officially announced that its October Prime Big Deal Days sale event will be held on October 8 and October 9. To experience the most savings during this epic two-day extravaganza, be sure that you’re an active Amazon Prime member ($139 per year). Leading up to this much-anticipated sale, Amazon has already begun slashing prices on all sorts of popular items. 

12 pre-Prime Big Deal Days discounts available right now

There’s no need wait for the October Prime Big Deal Days event to kick off, because right now, there are all sorts of great deals to be found shopping on Amazon. Our team of expert deal seekers has curated this pre-sale roundup of awesome money-saving offers.

Amazon 50″ Fire 4K 4-Series TV: $300 (33% off)

If you need a TV for a guest room, child’s bedroom or other smaller space, check out this 50-inch Amazon Fire 4-Series smart TV that’s now on sale for 33% off. This sale brings the TV’s price down to just $300. 

This TV comes with an Alexa voice remote and runs using the popular Amazon FireTV OS. This means it’s ready to stream content from all of the popular services you subscribe to, including Amazon Prime Video, which comes free with your Amazon Prime membership.

This is a 4K resolution TV that supports HDR10 and HGL, plus Dolby Digital Plus for sound. And since the Amazon Alexa digital assistant is integrated into this TV, you can use the voice remote to control the TV and any other compatible smart gear that’s installed in your home. On the back of the TV, there are four HDMI ports, so it’s easy to connect your cable box, a sound bar, video game console or other gear.

Based on more than 38,700 reviews on Amazon, this TV has earned a 4.5-star rating out of five, so you know people love it.

Apple AirPods Pro 2: $190 (24% off)

Apple continues to add new functionality to its highest-end wireless earbuds. In fact, the FDA recently approved that the AirPods Pro 2 will soon have the functionality to serve as over-the-counter hearing aids. 

However, if your hearing isn’t impaired, the AirPods Pro 2 offer powerful features that make listening to any type of audio an absolute pleasure. And they work extremely well during hands-free calls, too.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 offer active noise cancellation, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and a slew of other features. Plus, they’re IP54-rated for sweat, dust and water resistance.

These AirPods come with a wireless charging case. They make the perfect audio companions to an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook or iMac. And right now, these bestselling wireless earbuds are 24% off, so you can purchase them for just $190.

For help deciding which Apple AirPods model is best for you, be sure to check out our newly updated 2024 Apple AirPods buyer’s guide.

Vizio 40″ Full HD TV: $148 (13% off)

Here’s an entry-level, 40-inch, LED smart TV that offers 1080p resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s compatible with virtually all of the popular video streaming services you subscribe to, including Amazon Video Prime which comes free with your Amazon Prime membership.

For a limited time leading up to the big Prime Big Deal Days sale, Amazon has reduced the price of this Vizio TV to a mere $148 — that’s 13% off it’s usual price. 

This TV offers full array LED backlighting that’s fine-tuned at a granular level with what Vizio calls Active Pixel Tuning. This technology helps to ensure a clear and detailed picture quality at a very affordable price.

One notable feature is that if you have a pair of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, you can pair them with this TV to enjoy a private listening experience. The TV also supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, so you can stream content directly from your smartphone, tablet or computer.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen): $105 (30% off)

On its own, the Amazon Echo Show 8 home hub can serve as an interactive smart speaker that gives you easy access to the Alexa digital assistant. The device can also be used to stream video content from the internet and participate in video calls. Plus, if you have Alexa-compatible smart home gear, you can control it using voice commands via the Echo Show 8.

Released in 2023, this edition of the Amazon Echo Show offers an 8-inch touchscreen display. And its built in speakers support spatial audio, so when you stream music, it can fill a room with robust and life-like sound. One notable feature is that the Echo Show can share data with your smartphone, so you can use it to check your schedule or display your favorite photos in an animated slideshow format.

Based on more than 9,500 reviews on Amazon, this edition of the Echo Show 8 has earned a 4.5-star out of five rating. Right now, it’s on sale for 30% off, so you can purchase it for just $105. And if you have an older Amazon smart speaker or home hub to trade in, Amazon will give you an extra 20% off the purchase of this device — just click on the “Save 20% with Trade-In” button located on the home hub’s product page.

Dyson V8 cordless vacuum cleaner: $388 (17% off)

Enjoy a cleaner home when you use this Dyson V8 cordless vacuum cleaner to suck up unwanted dirt and dust. It works on all floor types and is battery powered, so you can maneuver it around easily, without having to drag a long extension cord behind you. And because this vacuum weighs just 5.6 pounds, it’s easy to carry around.

This bagless vacuum comes with four popular accessories and has an integrated HEPA filter. It’s designed to collect pet hair without getting tangled, thanks to Dyson’s de-tangling motorbar. With a fully charged battery, the vacuum will run for up to 40 minutes of continuous use.

Thanks to its modular design, the Dyson V8 easily converts into a handheld vacuum, too. It’s bin capacity is 0.14 gallons. Head over to Amazon right now to get 17% off this popular vacuum. It’s currently on sale for just $388. Based on more than 3,400 reviews on Amazon, it’s earned a 4.3-star out of five rating.

iRobot Roomba i3+ Evo (3554): $300 (32% off)

If you have a lot of floors in your home, there’s no longer a need to manually vacuum them. The latest robotic vacuums, like this popular iRobot Roomba i3 Evo, can work autonomously and on a preset schedule to keep your home’s floors clean and dirt-free.

Using the iRobot smartphone app, you can set a schedule for when and how often you want this robot vacuum to clean each room of your home. Or, using a simple voice command, you can activate it to quickly clean up a newly formed mess. Using smart mapping technology, the robot learns the layout of your home, so it can avoid crashing into furniture or accidentally falling down stairs.

One feature we like is that it automatically empties its bin on its own for up to 60 days, so it basically cleans up after itself by emptying its vacuum bin into an enclosed bag that’s easy to dispose of. This robot uses iRobot’s proprietary three-stage cleaning system that relies on dual multi-surface rubber brushes to agitate and lift dirt.

For a limited time, Amazon has discounted the Roomba i3+ Evo by 32%, which brings its price down to just $300.

Cosori 9-in-1 air fryer: $90 (25% off)

As Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale event draws closer, we’re discovering more and more bestselling products being heavily discounted. Take this Cosori 9-in-1 air fryer. It’s currently on sale for 25% off, so you can purchase it for just $90. 

Not only has this air fryer earned a 4.8-star out of five rating on Amazon, based on more than 3,300 reviews, it also continues to sell more than 10,000 units per month.

This is a six quart capacity air fryer that offers five fan speeds. It can reach up to 450-degrees Fahrenheit and uses 95% less oil, so the food it prepares is healthier to eat. And the smartphone app associated with this air fryer includes more than 100 easy to follow recipes.

Because this is a 9-in-1 device, it can air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, prepare frozen foods, proof, reheat, and keep foods warm. It’s the perfect alternative to using a traditional oven, microwave or dehydrator. Plus, the non-stick cooking basket and detachable components make cleaning a breeze, since they’re dishwasher safe. 

ErGear height-adjustable electric standing desk: $128 (20% off)

This is a sleek-looking, 48-by-24 inch electric standing desk that’s great for a home office or gaming setup. The desk comes in a variety of color combinations. It features a sturdy, alloy steel base and wood desktop. 

You can freely select its standing desk height — between 28.35 and 46.46 inches — plus save your favorite three settings and smoothly switch between them.

The desk features powerful lifting performance and reliable long-term operation. It’s been tested 50,000 times and is still going strong. Based on more than 5,500 Amazon reviews, this desk has earned a 4.6-star out of five rating. 

Right now, you can get this desk for 20% off, so you’ll pay just $128. And as an Amazon Prime member, of course you get free shipping. The desk comes with two storage hooks. A drawer and keyboard tray are sold separately

Apple iPad (10th Generation, Wi-Fi, 64GB): $299 (14% off)

As you’d expect, this iPad 10th Generation is slightly more powerful than the 9th Generation version of Apple’s entry-level tablet. It’s a great option for younger kids, or anyone who wants the power of an iPad, without all of the extra and more advanced tech that’s built into the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air models. 

You get a 10-inch Liquid Retina display. It’s powered using a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 hours. Choose between four casing colors — silver, blue, pink or yellow. This base model comes with 64GB of storage, but at the time of purchase, you can upgrade it to 256GB. Plus, you can choose between a Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi + cellular model.

This version of the iPad is powered using Apple’s A15 Bionic processor. For wireless connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 6. Plus, it comes with a 12MP front and rear-facing camera. The iPad 10th Generation runs the latest version of iOS 18 and comes with the same collection of preinstalled apps as all other current iPad models. Plus, you can further customize the tablet with optional apps available from the App Store.

For a limited time, Amazon has slashed 14% off the price of this popular iPad, so you can purchase it for just $299.

Dewalt 20V Max cordless drill/driver kit: $99 (45% off)

During both Amazon Prime Day and Amazon Prime Deal Days sale events, Dewalt power tools are always wildly popular, especially when Amazon reduces their prices by 45% or more. 

Right now, this bestselling 20 volt cordless drill and driver kit, which includes two rechargeable battery packs and a charger, is on sale for just $99. And Dewalt is also throwing in its iconic tool bag to store and transport your new power tool.

The drill’s high speed transmission delivers two speeds — either 0 to 450 or 1,500 rpm. This allows it to easily help you handle a range of fastening and drilling applications. Users of this drill also love the ergonomic handle that delivers comfort and control.

Based on more than 45,500 reviews on Amazon, the Dewalt 20V Max cordless drill/driver kit has earned a 4.8-star out of five rating. Plus, Amazon reports it sells more than 20,000 of these drills every month, so you know it’s built to get the job done.

Nintendo Switch: $265 (12% off)

It’s not often that Nintendo’s bestselling Switch video game system goes on sale, so now that Amazon is offering it at 12% off, it’s the perfect time to snag one. Instead of paying $300, you can get this version of the Nintendo Switch for $265. It includes a 6.2-inch touchscreen LCD display. 

What sets the Switch apart is that it offers three game play modes — TV, tabletop and handheld. It comes with one detachable Joy-Con controller. People of all ages love the Switch because it’s home to some of the most iconic games in video game history — many featuring stars like Mario, Luigi, Link, Princess Zelda, Donkey Kong, all of the Pokemon, and countless others. 

The Switch also offers the largest library of family-friendly games, as well as a vast assortment of popular titles that’ll keep teens and adults challenged for hours on end. This version of the Switch that’s on sale is the all-gray edition.

Keurig K-Mini single serve K-Cup pod coffee maker: $60 (40% off)

Enjoy your daily caffeine fix with this bestselling and easy to use Keurig K-Cup coffee maker. Choose between hundreds of K-Cup coffee, tea, hot cocoa and other drink varieties. This version of the coffee maker can brew up individual 6-ounce or 12-ounce servings. 

Best of all, it’s just five inches wide, so it takes up minimal kitchen counter space. The coffee maker’s removable drip tray accommodates travel mugs up to 7.0 inches tall and holds a full accidental brew for easy cleanup. Plus, the auto off feature turns off your coffee maker 90 seconds after your last brew, which helps to save energy.

At the moment, Amazon is selling this popular Keurig coffee maker for a whopping 40% off, so you’ll pay just $60 (instead of its usual $100 price). Amazon sells more than 10,000 of this coffee maker model per month. Based on more than 100,000 user reviews on Amazon, it’s earned an impressive 4.5-star rating out of five.

What is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days are mega-event sales during which Amazon slashes prices on tens of thousands of popular items. The sale lasts for just two days. Inventory on many products that go on sale is limited, so if you want to get the best deals, shop early to snag the items you want at a deep discount. 

When is Amazon Prime Big Deal Days?

The next Amazon Prime Day Big Deals sale takes place on October 8 through October 9, but Amazon has already begun offering some amazing deals on popular products that you can take advantage of today.

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Do you need to be a Amazon Prime member to shop the October Prime Day sale?

During the upcoming Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale, many sales will be available to everyone. However, a large number of deep discounts on popular products will only be available to Amazon Prime members. So, if you haven’t joined Amazon Prime yet, what are you waiting for? 

For just $14.99 per month or $139 per year, you get unlimited, free, two-day (or less) shipping on virtually everything you purchase from Amazon. You also get free access to Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Music, the Prime Gaming service, the Prime Reading services, free GrubHub+, extra savings on prescription medications and much more.

Jason R. Rich

Jason R. Rich (www.JasonRich.com) is an internationally recognized consumer technology expert with more than 30 years’ writing experience. He’s also an accomplished author and photographer. Two of his most recently published books, “iPhone 16 Pro Max Digital Photography” ($19.99) and
The Remote Worker’s Handbook: How to Effectively Work From Anywhere” ($24.99, Entrepreneur Books) are now available from Amazon and wherever books are sold.