Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: KENT-674E35
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
8 early Anglo-Saxon coins, stretching from the primary, through the intermediate, to the secondary phases of the coinage.
First batch (7 coins)
Second Batch : 1 coin
These coins belong to the silver phase of the early Anglo-Saxon coins, stretching from the Primary (coins 4 and 6), to the Intermediate (coins 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7), to the Secondary (coin 8) phases of the coinage, and can be dated between c .680 and c. 730.
These relative dates mirror our present state of knowledge of the material, derived from the comparison of material found in hoards.
Notes:
The coins obviously qualify as Treasure in terms of their date. Although no analysis has been carried out as to the precise metal content of the coins, coins of this period are normally well over the threshold stipulated by the Treasure Act (1996). Furthermore, there is no surviving evidence of the original ownership of the coins. The coins would thus represent a prima facie case of Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996), but only if it could be clearly demonstrated that some or all of them represent a hoard, since single finds of coins do not count as Treasure.
As the two Primary coins are rather below average weight, it may be argued that they were towards the end of the Series, and that Type 32a is amongst the first of Secondary Series. However the time-span between the types seems to be fairly wide, but perhaps not impossible for a hoard. The evidence from the material so far submitted is not conclusive, and could be argued in either way. The nature of the site, on the other hand, which I am told was closer to navigable waters than today, may have lent itself as a suitable site for a market or fair, although the apparent lack of other artefacts of Middle-Saxon date would argue against this possibility.
In the absence of clear evidence that the coins represent a hoard, my recommendation is that they should not be considered Treasure. However, this should not be considered as prejudicial to the consideration of any future discoveries from the site, in the event that two or more coins are found in circumstances which suggest more clearly that they were deposited together.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder after being declared not Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2002T251
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 775
Date to: Circa AD 825
Quantity: 8
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Treasure case number: 2002T251
No references cited so far.