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The gold and silver coins, part of a group found in an Upper Norwood garden 54 years ago, were discovered while the elderly widower sorted through his wife’s belongings.

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Many club members also attended a rally at Combermere on the 18th June. It is understood a number of denarii were found (not from our members). I'll try and find out a bit more.

It has also been decided that we will be taking part, as a cub, in the Big History Show which is being organised by Radio Merseyside on the 14th/15th and 16th September. Certainly a busy time for the club at the moment. Must fly but didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you
all:-)

Steve

In 1996 a hoard of 18 silver Saxon pennies were found near Severn Stoke, Worcestershire.In 2001 a further coin from the hoard was found in the same area. Twelve of the coins (of which 9 are shown below) were struck for King Burgred of West Mercia (reigned 852-874.) The other coins were struck for kings of Wessex - Aethelwulf, Aethelberht and Aethelred l. It was Burgred who gave the land at Hartlebury Castle, now home to Worcestershire County Museum, to the Bishops of Worcester in 854 AD.

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The razor is part of a collection known as the Collette Hoard, found
by John Minns, of Arbroath, in April 2005, which has gone on public
display for the first time in the Museum of Antiquities.

Mr Minns initially reported the find to Philippa Walton, a Finds
Officer with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, based in the Museum of
Antiquities. Subsequently it was sent to Bronze Age expert, Stuart
Needham, at the British Museum, for analysis.

The condition of the objects in the hoard has astounded experts, who
believe the find has the potential to provide new and valuable
information about the late Bronze Age.

'Hoards from the late Bronze Age containing such a variety of objects
in such good condition are very rare in the North of England, so this
is an extremely important find', says Lindsay Allason-Jones, Director
of Archaeological Museums at Newcastle University.

The Hoard includes objects that would have been used for personal
adornment, among them six gold lock rings, believed to have been hair
decorations, as well as bracelets, rings and pins.

An analysis of the lock rings, which are made of very fine gold leaf
wrapped around a solid core, carried out at the British Museum,
revealed the substance at the core of the rings to be beeswax.
'It is possible that further analysis of the beeswax might help us to
understand more about the environment of the late Bronze Age', says
Lindsay.'

Also included in the find were several more practical objects,
including six socketed axes which could have been used either for
woodworking or as weapons, and the first socketed gouge - a tool
which would have been used by craftsmen - to be found in
Northumberland.

One of the axes was found to have part of its handle still remaining.
Analysis has shown that the handle was made of hazel wood, and
further carbon dating confirmed a date of 1000 to 840 BC.
An ingot among the objects in the hoard has been found to be made of
a bronze alloy, unlike other ingots from this period, which were
usually made of copper, suggesting that metal recycling was an
important part of the lives of late Bronze Age Northumbrians.

How the objects came to be buried together is also proving to be
something of a puzzle to Lindsay and her colleagues. 'This hoard
doesn't conform to what we already know from other similar finds',
says Lindsay. 'It was found in a shallow pit, and fragments of
pottery found around the objects suggest it might have been covered
by a pottery vessel of some sort. However, it is hard to know whether
it was meant as an offering to a deity, or whether it might have been
a Bronze Age founder's hoard, which the owner hid, intending to come
back for it later'.

The Collette Hoard will be on display in the Museum of Antiquities
until 30 June 2007. It is intended that it will go on permanent
display from 2009 as part of the Great North Museum project.

Beginner's luck as yoghurt pot leads to major find

Metal detectorist, John Minns says finding the hoard was 'sheer
luck', and describes the moment he uncovered the hoard as a feeling
that he was touching history.

While on holiday near Berwick upon Tweed in 2005, Mr Minns, who had
only recently taken up metal detecting, was given permission by a
local farmer to take the detector on to his land.

'At first I made a couple of small finds, a copper coin and a spindle
whorl, just odds and ends', said Mr Minns. 'The only reason I found
the hoard was that I got a nice signal from the detector, but when I
dug away the soil, all I found was a yoghurt pot with a foil lid!'

But, keen to follow good metal detecting practice, Mr Minns
re-checked the hole, and to his surprise found half an axe head,
followed by another axe.

When he spotted the gold rings, however, Mr Minns sensed immediately
that he had stumbled across a major find, and quickly contacted
Philippa Walton of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, who arranged to
visit him to assess the hoard. 'I think she was expecting tractor
parts!' says Mr Minns.
Philippa decided that the hoard was important enough to be given a
collective name. Traditionally, hoards are named after the area in
which they were found, but initially, to avoid giving away the
location of the find until the further excavations had been carried
out, Mr Minns suggested naming it after his eight-year-old daughter,
and so it became known as the Collette Hoard.

Alan will be remembered for his League Title Win and World Cup Win.

He will be missed by everybody but rest in peace mate. You gave so much pleasure to everybody over the years.

Regards
Steve

Here is an excellent complete Roman steelyard weight in the form of a bust of a Roman soldier or emperor this has a small suspension loop on its head. Next is a Celtic Fastener. There is also a brooch and another unidentified fastener. They were all found in Yorkshire (unfortunately not by me) and would be great for anybodies collection.

Here below is a fantastic cut quarter of a Tealby penny found recently. The original coin would have been in practically mint condition. However as those of you know I have special part in my heart for 'cut' coins. These are so difficult to find. Unless you have actually held one it is so difficult to appreciate how small they are. Thanks to Andy for letting me share this with you.

Reverse of Coin

Obverse of Coin

Gold coins are known to have been struck by certain of the English Kings, previous to the Norman conquest; but it does not appear that there was any regular currency of gold in those days. Until the commencement of the 18th Century it was the generally received opinion that Edward 111 was the first English monarch who coined gold money in this country. About 1730 however attention was drawn to a passage in a manuscript chronicle in the city of London which states that in 1257, this king coined a penny of fine gold, of the weight of two sterlings(silver pennies of that time), and ordered that it should pass at twenty pence.

These coins nevertheless, do not seem to have been popular, as Carte in his history of England, says that the citizens of London made a representation against them on the 24th Nov., in the same year, and that 'the King was so willing to oblige them, that he published a proclamation, declaring that nobody was obliged to take it (the gold penny), and whoever did, might bring it to his exchange, and receive there the value at which it had been made current, an halfpenny on being deducted, probably for the coinage'.

By the proclamation of his 54th year, quoted by Snelling, the value of this coin was raised from 20 pence to 24 pence, or two shillings.

These gold coins are extremely rare, three or four specimens only being known. One of the two coins in the British Museum was purchased for £41. 10s. Another sold at Captain Marchison's sale in June 1864.

They bear

Obv. The king crowned, seated on his throne in royal robes, and holding in his right hand a sceptre, and in his left the orb HENRIC'.REX 111.

Rev. A long double cross, or cross voided, extending nearly to the edge of the coin; with a rose surrounded by three pellets in each angle. WILLEM.ON LVND.,LVNDE, LVNDEN The workmanship is much superior to that of the silver coins of the same period (See Fig.1)

Weight 45 1/5 grains
Fineness Pure or fine gold without alloy

Between the issue of this gold penny in 1257, and the first issue of Edward 111. in 1344, an interval of nearly 90 years, no coinage of gold is known to have taken place.

Camden conjectures that ignorance was the cause which so long prevented our monarchs from coining gold bur Ruding says that 'the true reason seems to be, that coins of gold were not wanted, when the price of the necessary articles of life was completely within the reach of an inferior metal. And in confirmation of this it may be observed, that the gold money which was struck in the early part of Edward 111's reign is nearly as fresh as it was on its first issuing from the mint; from whence we may reasonably infer that its circulation was extremely limited'.

I have asked the Museum of London to provide further information along with a photo, so I can show you the coin in all its glory. I await the reply.

Reply from museum:

There are seven surviving examples of the gold penny of Henry III to my knowledge. The British Museum has three of these and there is another in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge - the others are in private hands.

Note: A pricely sum was required to provide a phot. Shame really!!

During the eighteen hundreds many protractor pencils were made. In typical Victorian ornate fashion, many of these were made of gold or silver. I have been fortunate to find a silver one locally in Sefton Park. However a fellow detectorist has recently found a gold one. This was found in a farmers field and my guess is it dates to late Victorian. Whatever date it is, this is the actual condition it was found. In my opinion it is a beaut.

A 3,000-YEAR-OLD gold ring found in Buntingford has been declared as treasure.

The penannular ring from the Bronze Age has been dated by an expert as being from between 1150BC and 750BC.

Hertfordshire coroner Edward Thomas ruled on Wednesday that a panel will decide on its value and any reward for its finder.

The ring, weighing two-fifths of an ounce (12.7g) features stripes in two tones of gold on a base of copper alloy and is about one inch (2.5cm) in diameter.

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Stop Press: I have now received permission from Clive to show the ring

'Photo supplied with kind permission of Clive Copyright 2007'

On 19th April 2007 Spink will auction the remarkable and unique Medal Group of Air Chief Sir Basil Embry, which is expected to fetch between £150,000 to £180,000. The sheer scale of his medal group, a total of 18, is truly a feast for the enthusiast’s eyes. They represent innumerable acts of heroism and are a symbol of daring deeds performed by Embry over the course of his spectacular military career. Described as “both charming and rude, prejudiced and broad-minded, pliable and obstinate, dedicated and human. Above all things he was a gallant leader of men.”

Embry Timeline of Events and awards:

· 28 February 1902 –Born in Barnwood, Gloucester and educated at Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire.

· March 1921- Commissioned Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force

· August 1922 – Served for five years in Iraq, the majority of this time was spent piloting an Air Ambulance –on one occasion he had to transport a serviceman suffering from the plague!

· January 1926 – As a result of his service in Iraq he received the Air Force Cross, the first of many awards to follow during his glittering career.

· October 1937 – After several more years service in India and subsequent promotions he received the first of his four D.S.O.s for inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and exceptional flying ability.

· September 1939 – In command of No.107 Squadron at R.A.F. Wattisham, a Blenheim bomber unit, which had already begun operations and suffered casualties. On 25 September Embry led a formation of three Blenheims on a reconnaissance mission to Germany. They were attacked by German fighters and Embry’s aircraft suffered serious damage to wings and fuselage. He carried out a one-wheel landing on reaching Wattisham.

· With the German campaign in full swing Embry’s Squadron, detached to Scotland, carried out ten raids in eight days on the airfield Stavanager in treacherous weather conditions resulting in frostbite for Embry and the award of his first bar to his D.S.O.

· 10 May 1940, the German blitzkrieg invasion of the Low Countries erupted and Embry and his crews were in the thick of the battle to stem the German advance, each crew flying two or three sorties daily across the Channel to France. His leadership and personal gallantry at this time resulted in the award of a second bar to his D.S.O.

· 26 May 1940 – Due to the tremendous workload of flying missions that Embry had taken upon himself to lead, he was ordered to take a ‘back seat’ and given command of R.A.F. West Raynham with promotion to Group Captain. He could not resist, however, one last hurrah before relinquishing command. The next day he led his Squadron for the last time in an attack on German troops advancing on Dunkirk. His aircraft received a direct hit, killing the air gunner and sending the aircraft out of control. He and his navigator bailed out and Embry landed behind enemy lines near St Omer. He was captured by the Germans and marched away to a POW camp. En route he saw a road sign “Embry, 3 km,” which he took as a good omen. He rolled down a bank and successfully escaped and evaded the Germans for two months eventually making his way through France and Spain to Gibraltar. Nine weeks and five days after bailing out of his aircraft, Embry stepped ashore in the UK.

· After a brief flirtation with fighter command and a secondment to the Desert Air Force in North Africa, Embry was appointed Acting Air Vice Marshal with command initially of some 10 squadrons operating a variety of aircrafts.

· 18 February 1944 - Operation Jericho, the Mosquitoes attacked Amiens prison and liberated hundreds of French patriots, many under sentence of death by the Gestapo. Whilst Embry planned this raid, he was ordered by higher authority not to participate. Although, Embry did take part in several other equally successful precision attacks, often under the pseudonym ‘Wing Commander Smith,’ including on the Gestapo Headquarters in Aarhus, Copenhagen and Odense.

· 1945 – First peacetime appointment as Director General of Training

· 1947 – Promoted to Air Vice Marshal

· For the following four years he was an Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Fighter Command from April 1949 to April 1953, with the rank of Air Marshal from January 1951, and he was a representative of the R.A.F. both at the funeral of King George VI, and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

· July 1953 - Appointed to N.A.T.O. as Commander-In-Chief, Allied Air Forces Central Europe and was promoted to his final rank of Air Chief Marshal that December.

· February 1956 - Embry left his post at N.A.T.O. after frustrations with trying to revise the attitudes on vital importance of air power.

· April 1956 – Emigrated to New Zealand and wrote an auto-biography covering his experiences of the 35 years that he served, titled Mission Accomplished. He later moved to Western Australia where he took up farming and established a thriving farm out in the bush.

· 8 December 1977 – Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry dies.

Thanks to Spink for this press release.

Update 19th April 2007

Today Spink auctioned the remarkable and unique Medal Group of Air Chief Sir Basil Embry. After an intense bidding battle the group was sold to Michael Naxton, an agent, for £155,350.