Coins and artifacts available to view during Malton Open Day

Mick Easterby will be showing off more than his horses when his New House Farm stables are open to the public this Sunday as part of the re-invigorated Malton Open Day.

Visitors to Easterby's yard will also be able to view the trainer's collection of coins and other archaeological finds, all of which are up for auction in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Easterby has amassed the unique collection over more than seven decades living in the area and nominated a crown from the reign of George III as his favourite among the coins.

A stone age axe which originated in Cumbria but was found on Easterby's land in North YorkshireCredit: Mick Easterby

But Spittin' Mick has unearthed more than just ancient currency over the years.

"What I can’t get over is the stone age axe head, which I had a museum look at," said Easterby on Tuesday. "It’s over 4,000 years old and they said the stone came from Cumbria. How the hell did it get from Cumbria to Sheriff Hutton back then, that’s what I’d like to know?"

The collection has already raised interest on Easterby's Facebook page, though an initial bid of £260 for the lot was deemed well under the going rate.

"I wasn't keen to just sell it all for nothing," said Easterby.

The open day has been relaunched this year as the Malton Festival of Racing and is being organised by Racing Welfare in conjunction with Easterby and Richard Fahey, while the day is sponsored by Arena Racing Company.

Steve Parrott runs Easterby's website and Facebook page and hopes that being able to show the collection to the public on Sunday should help push up any final selling price.

"We’re planning to put them on display at the open day and if people want to come and have a look and perhaps bid, that would be good," said Parrott.

"We looked on eBay and there was a £791 bid for the George III crown, so there is some nice money out there. The coins are one thing but how do you put a value on the stone axes or the Roman bulls head? They’re unbelievable finds.

"We'd love for some of the museums to come and have a look, and Mr Easterby would show them round."

Details of the open day, and tickets, are available at https://www.maltonfestivalofracing.co.uk/activities/

If you are interested in this, you might like:

Easterby green jacket made a 'monkey' and stays in Yorkshire