coin hoard Archives - Regton Metal Detectors

Metal detectorists unearthed Roman coin hoard in Cornwall

24 August 201724 August 2017 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

The pair had been detecting a ploughed field with metal detectors when they discovered the hoard of nearly 2000 roman coins mixed up with the remains of a pure tin container, with a handle and lead stopper, which it is believed had once contained the coins.

1,965 coins were found inside a stone-lined pit. They date from 253AD to 274AD.

The hoard was discovered by Kyle Neil, 18, from Scorrier, and Darren Troon, 45, from Redruth. They are members of the Kernow Search and Recovery metal detecting club.

The coins were taken away for inspection by Royal Cornwall Museum and the British Museum after their discovery. Details of the find were revealed at a Cornwall Coroner’s Court where coroner Emma Carlyon officially recorded that the hoard was classed as treasure.

The recovered coins are known as radiates. They are all made of bronze with one per cent silver. They were a common currency in the late Roman period. In about 260AD, Briton was part of a breakaway Gallic empire. The court heard from a report by an expert at the British Museum who was able to identify the following Roman emperors on the coins.

Valerian, AD 253-60, 3 coins
Salonina, 14 coins
Saloninus, 1 coin
Gallienus, AD 260-8, 130 coins
Claudius II, AD 268-70, 164 coins
Divus Claudius II, AD 270, 32 coins
Quintillus, AD 270, 8 coins
Aurelian, AD 270-5, 1 coin
Postumus, AD 260-8, 1 coin
Postumus (debased), AD 268-9, 6 coins
Marius, AD 269, 1 coin
Victorinus, AD 269-71, 188 coins
Divus Victorinus, 1 coin
Tetricus I, AD 271-4, 438 coins
Tetricus II, 200 coins.

Of the rest, 78 coins were of uncertain Gallic origin, there were 54 where the emperor could be seen but not identified and 645 coins which were too badly corroded to be made out.

Perhaps of most interest is the remains of the tin vessel, although little of it has survived. Anna Tyacke, the liaison officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Cornwall, said that it is a rare type of container for coin hoards, which are more often found in pottery.

Roman hoard unearthed in a field in Peover Superior

13 July 201613 July 2016 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

METAL detecting enthusiast Ronald Lees unearthed the find of a lifetime in a field at Peover Superior. The 62-year-old initially found dozens of Roman coins, which became a hoard of almost 7,800 after archaeologists helped reveal the full extent of the amazing discovery. The bronze coins were produced in the third century, and the majority were found in a pot a few inches under the ground.

Mr Lees, from Altrincham, discovered the coins when he and friend Rick Parker made their fifth trawl of a field on a cold, wet winter’s day in January 2015. At an inquest into the find at Macclesfield Town Hall on Wednesday, Alan Moore, deputy coroner for Cheshire, declared the coin hoard to be treasure. Museums can express an interest in a find if it’s treasure, and if a museum wants the treasure the Treasure Valuation Committee will decide how much it is worth and how much will go to anyone entitled to a share of the find.

Mr Moore told Mr Lees at the inquest that It is an absolutely amazing find. Mr Moore read out a report by Richard Abdy from the British Museum. In his report Mr Abdy said the coins date from AD 251 to 274, and are similar to the many Romano-British coin hoards buried in the aftermath of the breakaway Gallic Empire. The empire was established in AD 260, he said, had held dominion over Britain and was reconquered by the legitimate ‘central’ Empire under Aurelian in AD 274. The coins include ones from the earliest years of Aurelian’s reign, and the latest are those of Tetricus I, AD 271-4 and his young son Tetricus II, the last of the Gallic Emperors. The greatest number, 1,902, are from the reign of Tetricus I, with 745 from his son’s reign. There are 1,670 coins from the reign of Victorinus, AD 269-71, 899 from Gallienus’ reign, AD 260-8, 599 from the reign of Claudius II, AD 268-70, and 354 from Posthumus’ reign, AD 260-9.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Lees said he took up metal detecting again three years ago after being interested in it in his 20s.

Lenborough coin hoard valued at £1.35m

9 June 20169 June 2016 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

A metal detectorist is to get a share of £1.35m after finding a hoard of 5,251 Anglo Saxon silver coins. Paul Coleman found the coins in Lenborough, Buckinghamshire in 2014. The Treasure Valuation Committee has ruled on their worth and Mr Coleman will split the money with the land owner. The Buckinghamshire County Museum had already launched a fundraising campaign ahead of the valuation, with the aim of buying the hoard.

The coins, which were found buried and wrapped in a sheet, depict the heads of King Ethelred the Unready and King Canute and came from 40 different mints around England. Mr Coleman, who lives in Southampton and is a member of the Weekend Wanderers Detecting Club, said he was accepting the valuation and wanted the hoard to go to the Buckinghamshire County Museum. He said that It’s open to wild speculation and it has been suggested by some experts that was worth £2-3m.

South Norfolk Hoard Declared Treasure

7 October 20157 October 2015 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

Ancient coin hoards discovered near Downham Market and Pulham St Mary have been declared treasure.

A hoard of Roman silver coins and a number of early medieval coins have been ruled to be treasure. A total of 26 Roman denarii were discovered by a metal detectorist John Kineavy. The trove is the third hoard from the same area in Pulham St Mary and it is thought more could still be at the site. Norfolk coroner Jacqueline Lake, sitting at King’s Lynn County Court, said the coins ranged from Republican issue to those of Roman Emperor Tiberius. They were issued between 154BC and AD37.

The hoard was unearthed on October 30 2014 and earlier collections, discovered in September 2012 and August 2013, included about 100 coins from the same period. The court heard Norwich Castle Museum are interested in housing the collection.

At yesterday’s inquest Mrs Lakes also declared another collection of coins found in Fincham near Downham Market as treasure. The coins were found by Stephen Sproule using a metal detector on August 30 2014. Mr Sproule also discovered a number of coins in October 2011 while metal detecting on land at Fincham. The coins were scattered over a wide area and appeared represent a hoard or part of a hoard. The most recent collection of treasure comprised eight silver Sceattas and described them as “porcupine types” – which refers to the design on the coin. They dated back to 730AD to 750AD.

Source: http://www.edp24.co.uk/

Archaeologists Discover Hoard of Silver Roman Coins in Bulgaria

10 September 201510 September 2015 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

A hoard of 2,976 silver Roman coins from the 1^st-2^nd century AD has been unearthed by archaeologists during the excavations of the ruins of the Ancient Thracian and Roman city of Serdica in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.The silver coin treasure has been found hidden inside a ceramic jug with a lid in the structures from Ancient Serdica which are being excavated on the square near the St. Nedelya (Holy Sunday) Cathedral and the Hotel Balkan (formerly the Sofia Sheraton) as part of the efforts for the further study of the Thracian and Roman city and its partial archaeological restoration. The treasure of silver coins is the largest collective coin treasure to have ever been found during the excavations of Ancient Serdica, Sofia Municipality has announced.The coins in question were collected for a period of at least 100 years since the earliest ones are coins of Roman Emperor Vespasian (69-79 AD), and the latest – coins of Emperor Commodus (r. 177/180-192 AD).

The vessel itself containing the silver coin treasure was found in Late Antiquity archaeological layers, i.e. the layers dating to the 3^rd, 4^th, and even the beginning of the 5^th century AD but the treasure itself was certainly collected during the 1^st and the 2^nd century AD.

There are also coins that feature almost all of the other Roman Emperors in-between and some of their wives, daughters, or sisters, from the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty (r. 96-192 AD) – including Emperor Nerva (r. 96 – 98 D), Emperor Trajan (r. 98-117 AD), Emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 AD), Emperor Antonius Pius (r. 138-161 AD), as well as Vibia Sabina (wife of Emperor Hadrian), Faustina the Elder (wife of Emperor Antonius Pius), Faustina the Younger (daughter of Emperor Antonius Pius and wife of Emperor Marcus Aurelius), Bruttia Crispina (wife of Emperor Commodus), and Lucilla (daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and elder sister of Emperor Commodus).

The discovery of the Roman silver coin treasure from Serdica is especially interesting because on the outside of the ceramic vessel containing the coins. Its (last) owner scratched their name – Selvius Calistus, apparently a Roman citizen with a Greek surname.

The silver treasure and the pottery vessels have been taken to the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences where experts are working on their further examination and restoration. Once they are done, the finds will be exhibited in the future Museum of Sofia’s History.

Source: http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/

Treasure hunter found £2.9 million in gold coins

20 August 201520 August 2015 Regton Detectors 3 Comments

Treasure hunters have discovered a hoard of Spanish gold coins from the 18th century that are worth around £2.9m. The 350 coins have lied scattered on the Atlantic sea bed off the coast of Florida for the past 300 years.

The coins originate from a fleet of 11 Spanish galleons that sank during a hurricane while making the journey from Cuba to Spain. The discovery is the second major find in Florida in recent months. In June, treasure hunters found about 50 coins worth about $1m.

The 350 coins, which were brought to the surface at the end of July, turned up in just a metre of water close to the shore, buried under the sand. Under US state law, Florida will keep 20% of value of the find.

The diver who discovered the coins, William Bartlett, declined to say what his cut would be, telling a local newspaper: “I’m just a guy on a boat living the dream.” Brent Brisben, who owns the rights to the wrecked ships, says the find includes nine rare pieces known as “royal eight escudos”. Only 20 were known to be in existence before this latest find. “These royals are perfect specimens of coinage of the time and they were made on royal order for the king of Spain,” Mr Brisben said.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/, http://www.tcpalm.com/

Roman coin hoard found by metal detectorists in Leominster

7 August 20157 August 2015 Regton Detectors 2 Comments

Leominster Roman coin hoard unearthed by a pair of Herefordshire metal detectorists. The British Museum has revealed a hoard of more than 500 Roman coins was found by two metal detector enthusiasts in a Herefordshire field. The 518 mixed copper coins, found near Leominster, had been placed in cloth bags and hidden in the ground in a leather satchel. Experts believe the coins were deliberately buried. The British Museum said it was very rare to find hoards so well-preserved.

The hoard was found in July 2013 by paramedics and metal detector enthusiasts Jeremy Daw and Martin Fulloway. The news of the find has only just been made public by the British Museum. Mr Fulloway said four of the coins were stuck to a stone, while others were in the loose soil. Mr Daw said the coins were possibly buried during a time of unrest in the Roman empire. The earth was x-rayed at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and then examined by the British Museum. The coins range from from AD 260 to circa 290 and include eight coins of the Britannic Empire.

The hoard was declared treasure trove in June by the Hereford coroner and will now be valued by the British Museum. The value will then be shared with the two finders, landowner and Hereford and Leominster Museum.

Peter Reavill, a finds officer for the British Museum, said that this is one of the best-preserved coin hoards I have seen. He said he hoped funds would be raised to keep the collection in the county.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

Roman coin hoard found by metal detectorists in Leominster

7 August 20157 August 2015 Regton Detectors 2 Comments

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

Medieval treasure found by metal detectorist

23 June 201523 June 2015 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

Man finds thousands of pounds worth of medieval treasure including 15th century sapphire ring in field. Once in a lifetime’ find included 23 carat gold coins and a gold ring with a blue sapphire thought to have been from the 15th century. A pensioner stumbled on a “once in a lifetime” trove of medieval treasure when metal detecting in a friend’s field. Cliff Massey, 86, found an impressive hoard of three 23 carat gold and 25 silver coins during two separate visits to Iford Edwards’ farm near Bronington. He also made the “once in a lifetime” discovery of a 15th century gold ring featuring a cabochon blue sapphire. The total value of the discovery is unknown but a similar find of gold and silver coins made in 2012 in the same field saw Mr Massey and Mr Edwards receive a fee of £800 each. The coins which are from the reigns of Edward III, Richard II, Henry VI – with three more pennies of uncertain rulers – are believed to be from the same deposit in which someone buried or lost them after 1465. Mr Massey, who has been metal detecting for around 15 years, first met Mr Edwards, 58, when he was called to help him find his keys which he had lost on one of his fields a decade ago.

detectorists with xp deus metal detectors

Story of the Iron Age gold stater hoard

11 June 201511 June 2015 Regton Detectors Leave a comment

It was a Saturday evening and I was pondering whether to play golf the next day or to go detecting. I gave Jonno (dad) a call to see if he fancied a morning out swinging.

He was up for it so he rang a few friends from our club Four Quarters MDC.

He rang Derek (runner) and Shawn (Spartacus) and We all agreed to meet up the next morning at Derek’s permission. It was near Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
I (Martus) drove down to Derek’s full of anticipation and excitement hoping to get a bagful of goodies. I was on a roll after finding a lovely Saxon strap end on our Four Quarters rally the weekend before.
“I don’t expect much today” Derek mumbled in the car on the way to the field. “Don’t be so negative” I replied “I’ll show you how to do it” chuckling to myself.
We met Jonno and Shawn at the farm parked next to the field. They were drinking coffee and chatting away like to old women. Nothing new there then.
The sun was shining brightly with a small breeze from the easterly wind. It was Perfect detecting conditions. We all had our XP Deus machines switched on with different settings being used including Basic 1, Deus fast and gm power.
Off we went slowly making our way to the bottom of the field. Heading towards the brook.

It was very quiet and We didn’t get a signal for half an hour when we spotted Shawn on his knees digging. ” A blooming horseshoe” he said but he did not use those exact words. I’ll leave the exact words to your own imagination. Anyone who knows Shawn will now what I mean.

Another half hour passed by and we had nothing in our finds pouch except one button to show for it.

I was ready to leave and try another field across the lane.

We all made our way to the end of the field to Derek we wanted to try else where. As we walked down the hill to him we hear a scream from Derek. Jumping up and down like a crazed madman. “I’ve got one, I’ve got one I’ve got a Gold Roman” he cried.
“Oh shut up you your telling porky pies” Shawn replied. ” No, no honestly I’ve got one”‘Derek insisted. “I’ve got a Roman”. He was only a few yards away so I went to have a look. ” That’s not Roman, it’s a Celtic stater you’ve got there” I laughed “you jammy git”
I couldn’t believe that anything at all had turned up. I’ve never been so shocked in my life.

As Derek walked on down the hill Shawn said jokingly” have you tried the hole it may be a hoard”.

Then about a yard further on Shawn screams “I got one, I got one” the signal number was 76 on the Deus.
“That signal was very scratchy” he said, “I wasn’t going to dig it”. It just shows you must always check your hole and around it after you have found your signal.
I got on the phone and rang my Good pal Pon who is also our club chairman for Four Quarters MDC, “I’m on my way” he chuckled.

In the meantime Derek carried on in a straight line about 5 yards away. I think “I’ve got another lads. It’s a 76” sure enough there it was as bright as could be. Only about 6 inches down.
I was starting to feel as though the hoard had passed me by when I heard a very faint signal. Not even registering a number on the remote. As a rule I don’t think I would have dug it. I put the spade in and lifted the front edge. All of a sudden the signal changed to a solid beeping 76. I knew it had to be. I got the pin-pointer in the hole. Removed the soil and there it was. A beautiful full stater of the Dubonni. A rare Comux in great condition. I punched the air in delight and did a dance of which Michael Jackson would have been proud of.

Shawn was as happy for me as I was. I jumped up on to him with excitement as he carried me around on his back like a big kid.

Then two minutes later Derek found another. That was three for him. It was all getting rather mad now.
Pon then turned up with a big grin on his face. “Well done lads, you’ve got some great coins there. It’s very rare to find a Celtic gold coin hoard!” Unbelievable was the best word I could think of. What a day. Not what I expected this morning when I got out of bed.
But there was a bit of disappointment in dads eyes. He was the only one of us not to find a gold stater. Thirty minutes on and still no coin for Jonno.
About 5 yards away to the left he called me over to check a signal. “I can’t hear anything Dad. There’s nothing there” I told him and I walked away.

Then all of a sudden
“Yes!” he shouted. “Yes, yes, yes!”. He’d got one. We all dropped our detectors and mobbed him, dancing around and screaming. What a site it must have been. Five grown men dancing around in the middle of the field. Dressed in camouflage with wellies on.

What a brilliant day. The way it happened with Five good friends all sharing a day of a lifetime. With us finding our first gold coin and our first gold stater. All of us getting a share in the glory. Unbelievable.

Pon then rang the Flo Angie to notify her of our scattered hoard and to abide by the treasure trove laws. We rang the farmers wife and she came over immediately to join us and take a look at our finds. ” Wow, they’re beautiful. I’m so happy for you all” was her response. We explained to her the procedures and told her she would get 50%. She was over the moon. It couldn’t have gone to a nicer lady. We now await to see the outcome of this adventure. Hope fully the site will get excavated as I believe there is a lot more in the ground just out of our reach.

We have returned to the field since where Shawn found one more gold stater now making the total seven.

I’m looking forward to more visits to the field as any more staters found will add to the history of the Hoard.

A big thank you to Derek for allowing us on his permission.

A big thank you to the farmer and his wife and their son.

A big thank you to Pona for calming us down and organising the procedure of contacting the FLO and helping us record the finds.

Martin Sibley

Shawn,Derek,Jonno & Mart. All with their Xp Deus.