Detectorists split £4.3m Norman coin hoard

Media caption,

More than 2,500 silver pennies from the period between 1066 and 68 were found

Emma Elgee

BBC News, West of England

A hoard of 2,584 silver pennies from the time of the Norman Conquest has been bought for £4.3m – making it the highest-value treasure ever found in the UK.

The South West Heritage Trust has bought the “unprecedented” hoard of coins from the Crown.

The metal detectorists who found the coins will split the proceeds with the landowner.

The Chew Valley Hoard, as it is now known, was discovered on 26 January 2019 by seven finders while they were metal detecting in the Chew Valley area of Bath and North East Somerset.

Image source, South West Heritage Trust

Image caption,

South West Heritage Trust curator of archaeology Amal Khreisheh with one of the coins from the hoard

Sam Astill, chief executive of the South West Heritage Trust, said: “The hoard symbolises a pivotal moment in English history, and we are delighted to have made this acquisition so that it may be enjoyed by generations to come.”

Lisa Grace and Adam Staples unearthed the bulk of the coins with five friends on a weekend trip in 2019.

They have previously said how it was a “dream” to find so many coins.

From 26 November, the coins will go on display at the British Museum.

They will later be displayed at museums across the UK, including in Bath, before finding a permanent home at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.

Image source, British Museum

Image caption,

Just one coin features Edward ‘The Confessor’ (pictured) with the rest featuring Harold II or William I

Experts suspect the coins were likely buried for safekeeping in the turmoil of the Norman Conquest.

Represented on just under half the coins is Harold II (1066), the last crowned Saxon king of England, and the other half feature William I (1066-1087).

It is the largest hoard found in the UK from the period after the Norman Conquest.

Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “This remarkable hoard gives us unique insight into our country’s rich history and one of the most important moments in our history, when these islands were thrown into turmoil by the Norman Conquest.”

‘I’m going to live mortgage-free’

Mr Staples, one of the detectorists who unearthed the coins five years ago, said the find was “unbelievable”.

“I’ve found lots of amazing things but to see something like this coming up and realise you’ve finally hit the big one, it’s just a dream come true,” Mr Staples said.

Mr Staples, his ex-partner Ms Grace, and their friends split their half of the proceeds into seven, and he has already spent some of his share.

“I’ve got a few hundred thousand pounds out of it and I bought a house,” he said.

“I’m going to live mortgage-free and hopefully have a bit more time to go and find something else.”

Image source, PA

Image caption,

Mr Staples, pictured here with Lisa Grace, previously said to find just one coin would be an “exceptional day metal detecting”

The South West Heritage Trust was awarded £4,420,527 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to buy the hoard.

The trust was also given £150,000 from the Art Fund, alongside smaller grants from the Friends of The Museum of Somerset and the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society.

National Lottery Heritage Fund chief executive Eilish McGuinness said it was delighted to support the purchase of the coins and to help fund a permanent display in Somerset.

Somerset Council leader Bill Revans said: “The county has a rich heritage and this acquisition will help bring history to life; residents and visitors will be able to engage with the hoard through learning activities and workshops.”

What is treasure?

Under the Treasure Act 1996, external, finders of potential treasure in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are legally obliged to notify their local coroner

An inquest then determines whether the finds constitute treasure

The act contains a number of definitions of “treasure”, including prehistoric objects, coins that contain gold or silver and are at least 300 years old, or more recent valuable objects that have been deliberately hidden