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Steve Rice has been Metal Detecting for over 20 years. He is a member and past chairman of the South Lancs and Cheshire Metal Detecting Club.

Steve will endeavour to keep everyone up to date with his finds (and other members' finds) as well as the hobby in general. He is also a keen Coin Collector and Historian and will keep you upto date with this also.

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Coin Hoards

Most important Viking Treasure in 150 years found by metal detectorists in North Yorkshire

Posted by ricey on August 5, 2007 10:15 AM

A major Viking hoard was discovered in the Harrogate area in January 2007 by metal-detectorists David and Andrew Whelan. The size and quality of the hoard is remarkable, making it the most important find of its type in Britain for over 150 years.

For a full article and pictures and video

Click Here

Cuerdale Hoard 1840 - the orginal view

Posted by ricey on April 9, 2007 5:10 PM

Whilst researching coins hoards I came across an account of probably the most famous coin hoard ever found in the North West

On the evening of the 15th May 1840 workmen, engaged in repairing the southern enbankment of the river Ribble, near Curedale Hall, and about three miles from Preston, were agreeably surprised by the discovery of hidden treasure, which had for many centuries laid inhumed in that delightful and secluded vale within three feet of the surface of the pasture , and about thirty yards from the edgeof the river. A portion of the earth, under the spot where the treasure lay, having been previously removed, the leaden case, which was in a corroded state, was crushed to pieces by the fall, aided by the weight of the superincumbent soil, and disclosed its extensive and varied treasures before the astonished gaze of the workmen, who immediately set up a simulataneous shout. The attracted the attention of the hind of Curedale Hall, who, hastening to the place, found the workmen collected around the treasure in the act of the general scramble, each endeavouring to obtain the greatest share of the booty.

Full article

1836 Haltwhistle Hoard

Posted by ricey on April 5, 2007 1:53 AM

In the mid 1830's while some workmen were quarrying stone for the
Directors of the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, on the top of Boreum, a
high hill in the township of Thorngrafton and Parish of Haltwhistle in
Northumberland, one of them found a copper vessel containing 63 coins, 3 of
them gold and 60 copper.

Full article

Horseheath Hoard Circa 1841

Posted by ricey on April 5, 2007 1:52 AM

In an old book I have just been reading dated 1854 it referers to a hoard of
coins being found in Horseheath some years earlier.
It is particularly interesting to note that it was found quite accidentaly
by a waggon being struck in a rut.

The story goes as follows ' A curious discovery of coins, hitherto
unrecorded, took place about thirteen years ago at Horseheath, Near Linton,
Cambridgeshire.
A waggon in its course over the heath getting into a deep rut, was obliged
to be forced out by the aid of the driver, who saw adhering to the wheels
what he considered to
be abrass button. It was a Roman Coin; and when the wheels were moved he
saw another two, and on going back to the rut found that he had crushed a
jar in which there were about two hundred more. He sold them in Cambridge;
and from examination of a few of the number, they seem to have consisted of
the later Roman series; coins of Hadrian, Severus, Nerva Macrinus, and a
few legionary being among them'.

Forest of Dean Roman Coin Hoard 1847

Posted by ricey on March 25, 2007 11:09 PM

Full article

Pettiogoe Hoard 1852

Posted by ricey on March 25, 2007 11:32 AM

Just how many hoards are still out there? I find asking myself. I've been researching coin hoards for years now and on a daily basis there are more and more being found. There are also more and more coming to light that were found in years gone bye. Some small - Some large. Some old - Some new. I know that more will be found this year by Metal Detectorists but how many are still to be found on our little island.

Here is an account of a hoard found in 1852 which may interest you further.

'In the month of April 1852, a few coins were found in Pettigoe, in the County of Fermanagh; Mr Barton on whose property the coins were discovered, left them with Mr Clibborn, who placed them in my hands, and informed me that Mr Barton would be obliged by any information respecting them.

The lot consists of fourteen coins, three groats of David 11, along with nine groats and two half groats of Robert 11; all the groats are of the Edinburgh mint, and the half-groats are from the mint of Perth

'Scotch coins of an early period are frequently found in Ireland, and though many hundreds of them have passed through my hands, I never met with or heard of any similar to the coins Iam about to describe. Ten of those coins are forgeries of a very peculiar kind, fabricated with a degree of ingenuity well calculated to impose on the rude and ignorant people of the fourteenth century. Toe of the groats and two of the half groats, are genuine silver coins. The specific gravity of one of the groats is 10.6. Each of the false groats consists of two very thin discs of silver, having interposed a piece of copper of somewhat smaller diameter, and much thicker than the silver, and they seem to have been struck between dies in the usual manner. As to the means by which the different metals were made to adhere, I found on attempting to separate one of the discs of silver from the copper, that it was detached without much difficulty, and that the metals had been united by solder, which has been corroded at the margin so as to expose the mode of fabrication.

Roman treasure found in pond dig

Posted by ricey on January 14, 2007 10:13 AM

Another old story but one I need to document for research purposes. Those who read my blog regularly will know that I am at present recording a number of old hoards in order to get an online database.

________________________________________________________________

A man unearthed a priceless hoard of 20,000 Roman coins as he dug a new fishpond in his back garden.
Experts say the money may date from the 4th Century and could be the biggest find of its kind in Britain.

The coins were crammed into a ceramic pot which broke up as it was dug out of the ground at Thornbury, South Gloucestershire.

Now a coroner must decide if Ken Allen, who made the discovery, can keep the treasure.

Gail Boyle, from Bristol Museum, said: "This is the most amazing find of treasure to come out of this area for 30 years."

Full Story

Roman treasure discovered on farm

Posted by ricey on January 14, 2007 10:08 AM

Another old hoard story but worth a mention in the archives

Roman treasure discovered on farm

Farm contractors have unearthed 2,000 Roman coins beneath a field at a farm near Carmarthen.
The coins, which date from late Roman times, have been categorised as "treasure".

They contain a small amount of silver, but experts have not yet put a value on the find.

The exact location of the discovery is being kept secret to protect the site from treasure hunters. The HM Coroner has been informed.

The coins are thought to have been lying just 12 inches beneath the surface of a field.

Full Story

Schoolboy's Roman coins sold

Posted by ricey on January 14, 2007 9:58 AM

This is an old story dating back to 2001 however as I am researching old coin hoards it is one I would like to put on record. As i find out more information I will add this to the details below.

A hoard of approx 1,200 gold, silver and copper Roman coins found by a schoolboy was bought by the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes. The coins had been in a plain pottery jar.
The so-called "Stanchester hoard", worth £50,000, was discovered by John Philpotts in a field.

A coroner's inquest in Swindon declared the coins were "a treasure".

Roman coins declared treasure trove

Posted by ricey on January 14, 2007 9:55 AM

Another old hoard story

A collection of Roman coins and a gold ring dating back to the 17th Century have been declared treasure trove at an inquest in Shrewsbury.
Once experts have valued the items, they will be put on sale and Shrewsbury Museums is hoping to raise enough funds to keep them in the county.

Full Story

Coin hoard declared treasure!!

Posted by ricey on January 14, 2007 9:51 AM

Another Hoard for my archives.

The largest hoard of Iron Age gold and silver coins ever found in Britain has been officially declared treasure.
More than 3,000 coins were found by a group of amateur archaeologists while out walking near Market Harborough, Leicestershire, nearly three years ago.

The find, which pre-dates the Roman invasion of 43 AD also includes a Roman cavalry helmet, suggesting the original owner may have travelled to the continent.

Click Here

Old Roman coins dug up in field

Posted by ricey on January 14, 2007 9:47 AM

Another old story for the hoard archive

A handful of ancient Roman coins have been dug up in a playing field in West Wickham, near Bromley, south London.
The artefacts may have been thrown into water for good luck by superstitious Romans, an archaeologist suggested.

Full Story

North Devon treasure find

Posted by ricey on January 14, 2007 9:42 AM

An old story from 2001 but certainly one for the archives on this blog

Hundreds of rare coins have been discovered buried in the foundations of a North Devon house. The treasure is going to be examined by experts but initial indications show they're worth at least £10,000. There are more than 400 coins in the hoard.

Nine of the coins that were discovered are James the First gold sovereigns. Others are groats, sixpences and shillings from the time of Elizabeth the First and Charles the First.


Full Story

On a Hoard of Gold Nobles found at Bremeridge Farm, Westbury, Wiltshire.

Posted by ricey on July 30, 2006 8:29 AM

On a Hoard of Gold Nobles found at Bremeridge Farm, Westbury, Wiltshire.
May 23, 1878.

In the early part of September 1877 there was found on Brenieridge farm, in the parish of Westbury, Wilts, belonging to' Charles Paul Pliipps, esq. of Chalcot, a hoard of 32 gold coins. They were found during repairs and. im­provements of the homestead, about a foot and a half below the surface, in the courtyard, piled,one above another, without any appearance of a.purse or box. The place of deposit would be indicated by a line producing the east end of the main building southwards to a distance of about 13 ft. from the wall of the present back kitchen.
.
The workmen, as a matter of course, appropriated the coins and distributed them amongst themselves, being fully alive to their intrinsic value, but all unwitting, apparently, of the laws of treasure trove. Mr. Phipps, with great promptitude, made the workmen understand that the coins belonged neither to them as,finders nor to himself as owner of the soil and employer, but to the Queen, and must be sent forthwith to the Treasury. By this means 32 pieces were recovered uninjured, except that a little bit had been scooped out of the edge of one, apparently to test the metal. After careful examination and after a list was made they were sent to the Treasury in a registered packet on the 18th of September.

nobles.jpg

Full Story

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Metal Detecting in the Coin Hoards category. They are listed from oldest to newest.

Auction News is the previous category. English Battlefields is the next category.Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.