A sunken pirate ship off the coast of Borneo has brought a German treasure-hunter a haul of booty worth at least €7 million ($10-million).

Martin Wenzels, 42, a property developer in Dresden, and business partner Klaus Keppler, 71, located the wreck of The Forbes, which sank in 1806.

What at first sight looked to be encrusted and worthless turned out to be a valuable haul, comprising 1.5 tons of silver coins, gold decorations, cannons, crystal and Ming porcelain.

A treasure hunter has struck gold, after his metal detector guided him to a rare Anglo-Saxon cross in the middle of a muddy farmer’s field.

The stunning pure gold artefact was set with red gemstones and dates from the 7th century. It may have originally held a relic such as bone from a Disciple or fragment of the Cross.

Measuring just over an inch long, the finely decorated 18 carat gold is worth at least £25,000 ($50,000). The red stones are among the world’s most ancient gems and were used by ancient Greeks .

The anonymous finder discovered the 1,400-year-old cross just 12 inches beneath the sod on a farm in Nottinghamshire. He handed the find to a coroner who declared it as treasure trove at an inquest. This means the finder will get half the proceeds of a sale. He is likely to split his earnings with the farmer.