A rare collection of coins from the "Golden Age" of English history has been unearthed in a farmer's field.
The
five silver sixpence pieces, which date from the Elizabethan Tudor
period, were discovered at a tenant farm on the Garendon and Grace Dieu
Estate of Squire Gerard de Lisle, between Hathern and Shepshed.
Members of the Loughborough Coin and Search Society made the find during a club outing last September.
John Maloney, the group's detecting liaison officer, described the moment of the discovery.
He said: "We'd been searching a recently ploughed field at the start of our season, which goes from August to April, when we came across some items of interest.
"They were spotted down the plough line of the field, four or five yards from each other, and had clearly only recently been disturbed.
"I remember there being a lot of excitement, and it was obvious we'd come across something very rare."
Under the Treasure Act of 1996, findings have to be reported to a coroner within 14 days, with the finder and landowner awarded money if the Crown decides to claim them.
"There is a strict process to follow," said Mr Maloney. "First of all you have to get the permission of the landowner and tenant to search an area.
"Then, if you find potential treasure, it has to be reported to a coroner.
"In this case, the coins went to Wendy Scott, find liaison officer for the Leicestershire and Rutland Portable Antiquities Scheme, as the coroner's agent."
After being recorded by Ms Scott, who is based at County Hall, the coins went to the British Museum, in London, to be assessed by experts. That is why the society members have had to wait until now for Trevor Kirkman, senior coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, to declare the silver coins treasure.
Three of the silver coins were found by one metal detectorist, and the remaining pieces found by two others.
Mr Maloney said: "Because the Crown, don't want the coins, they now come back to us.
"We have an agreement with the farmer and Squire de Lisle that anything we find will go on public display for the greater benefit.
"Although the coins themselves are not worth a huge amount, as part of a jigsaw that fits together to tell the story of our past, they are of huge value."
Mr Maloney said the plan was to put the coins on display at the Old Rectory Museum, Loughborough.
What society members have also found on the estate
The five Elizabethan coins found at Hathern date from between 1572 and 1582.
Members of the Loughborough Coin and Search Society made the find during a club outing last September.
John Maloney, the group's detecting liaison officer, described the moment of the discovery.
He said: "We'd been searching a recently ploughed field at the start of our season, which goes from August to April, when we came across some items of interest.
"They were spotted down the plough line of the field, four or five yards from each other, and had clearly only recently been disturbed.
"I remember there being a lot of excitement, and it was obvious we'd come across something very rare."
Under the Treasure Act of 1996, findings have to be reported to a coroner within 14 days, with the finder and landowner awarded money if the Crown decides to claim them.
"There is a strict process to follow," said Mr Maloney. "First of all you have to get the permission of the landowner and tenant to search an area.
"Then, if you find potential treasure, it has to be reported to a coroner.
"In this case, the coins went to Wendy Scott, find liaison officer for the Leicestershire and Rutland Portable Antiquities Scheme, as the coroner's agent."
After being recorded by Ms Scott, who is based at County Hall, the coins went to the British Museum, in London, to be assessed by experts. That is why the society members have had to wait until now for Trevor Kirkman, senior coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, to declare the silver coins treasure.
Three of the silver coins were found by one metal detectorist, and the remaining pieces found by two others.
Mr Maloney said: "Because the Crown, don't want the coins, they now come back to us.
"We have an agreement with the farmer and Squire de Lisle that anything we find will go on public display for the greater benefit.
"Although the coins themselves are not worth a huge amount, as part of a jigsaw that fits together to tell the story of our past, they are of huge value."
Mr Maloney said the plan was to put the coins on display at the Old Rectory Museum, Loughborough.
What society members have also found on the estate
The five Elizabethan coins found at Hathern date from between 1572 and 1582.
Similar "hand hammered'' silver coins are on sale on eBay for more than £100.
However, they are considerably less valuable than the much rarer 'milled' versions, which are worth up to £600.
Other finds by the Loughborough Coin and Search Society on the Garendon and Grace Dieu Estate include:
An axe head from the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age, dating back to between 600 and 800BC and the southernmost found of its kind in the British Isles.
Two Republican Roman Coins from 44BC featuring the veiled head of Julius Caesar.
26 silver Tealby (named after the Lincolnshire village where the first large hoard was found in the 19th century) featuring the image of King Henry II.
However, they are considerably less valuable than the much rarer 'milled' versions, which are worth up to £600.
Other finds by the Loughborough Coin and Search Society on the Garendon and Grace Dieu Estate include:
An axe head from the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age, dating back to between 600 and 800BC and the southernmost found of its kind in the British Isles.
Two Republican Roman Coins from 44BC featuring the veiled head of Julius Caesar.
26 silver Tealby (named after the Lincolnshire village where the first large hoard was found in the 19th century) featuring the image of King Henry II.
No comments:
Post a Comment