HOARD

Treasure Case 2010 T496 and T496a

"I have examined eight coins reported. All are silver pennies of the English kings Edward I and Edward II and will therefore be of the established sterling standard, a little over 90% fine metal. The details of the coins are as follows (three coins indicated with an asterisk were discovered by the second finder).

Pennies of Edward I-II
1. Class 2b (1280) Bristol 1.28g
2. Class 2b London 1.23g*
3. Class 3g (1280-1) Canterbury 1.2g*
4. Class 4b (1282-9) Canterbury 1.25g
5. Class 9b1 (1299-1301) Bristol 1.16g
6. Class 10ab5 late (1303-5) London 1.14g*
7. Class 10cf3b1 (1307-9) London 1.35g
8. Class 11b3 (c.1310-14) Canterbury 1.35g

The find consists solely of pennies, with no halfpennies or farthings (the only other denominations then available), so a degree of selection is apparent. The coins would easily have been in currency together, following Edward I's complete national recoinage of 1279-80. The date of the most recent coin suggests this was a group deposited roughly in the decade 1310-20.

It is my opinion that this find, consisting of coins of good silver and almost certainly deposited together, fulfils the criteria of Treasure, according to the terms of the Act.

Dr Barrie J. Cook
Curator of Medieval and Early Modern Coinage
Department of Coins and Medals
British Museum
London
19 November 2010

Addenda (2010 T496A)

Two further silver coins have been reported found on the site. Their details are as follows.

Pennies of Edward I and II
9. Class 11b2 (c.1310-14) Canterbury 1.37g

Penny of Edward III
10. Fragment, apparently of a penny of Edward III, Fourth Coinage, pre-Treaty period, series G (1356-60) 0.22g

While coin no. 9 fits well with the previously reported finds and can be considered as part of a single deposit, made along with them in the early 14th century. The fragmentary coin, no. 10, seems to be a separate loss, made at least 50 years after the main group was deposited. In my opinion, coin no. 9 should be considered as Treasure, under the terms of the Act. However, I would suggest that coin no. 10 should not, instead being regarded as a single loss and thus not eligible for a verdict of Treasure.

Dr Barrie J. Cook
Curator of Medieval and Early Modern Coinage
Department of Coins and Medals
British Museum
London
5 January 2011"