Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: BERK-C479A1
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
TREASURE CASE 2016 T638. A small coin hoard, or purse-drop, consisting of three gold coins of James I, all found together. The coins have been identified by Barrie J Cook of the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum. His report follows:
I have examined a group of three coins reported found in West Berkshire. All three are good gold (over 90% fine metal), and are official issues of King James VI and I. Their details are as follows:
James VI and I
Eighth Scottish Coinage (1601-4)
1. Gold sword and sceptre piece 1601 5.02g
Second English Coinage (1604-19)
2. Gold unite tower (1612-13) 9.91g
Third Coinage (1619-25)
3. Gold laurel thistle (1621-3) 9.03g
The Scottish coin was worth 120 shillings Scots when issued, equivalent to 10 shillings sterling; the two English coins were each worth £1 sterling (20-shillings) when issued. Due to shifting gold prices, however, the value of the Second Coinage unite had been enhanced to 22-shillings in 1612 and the laurel was introduced at a lower weight to provide a £1 coin again. The Scottish coin's value would have been similarly raised in England to 11-shillings.
These coins would have been in currency together and, with a face-value in the years around 1620 of £2 13s., represent a considerable sum of money at the time, equivalent to several months' income for an ordinary labourer or artisan.
Notes:
As these coins are over 300 years old are gold and were found at the same findpsot, they constitue Treasure under the stipulations of the 1996 Treasure Act.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent action after recording: Submitted for consideration as Treasure
Treasure case tracking number: 2016T638
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1603
Date to: Circa AD 1625
Quantity: 3
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 18th June 2016
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: OXPAS2016.304
Treasure case number: 2016T638
Primary material: Gold
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
4 Figure: SU5272
Four figure Latitude: 51.44461108
Four figure longitude: -1.25317194
1:25K map: SU5272
1:10K map: SU57SW
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.
Find number: KENT5283
Object type: COIN WEIGHT
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A copper alloy square coin weight of James I, equal to a unite (20 shillings). Obverse: laurelled(?) bust, facing left, within a circular pel…
Workflow: Published
Find number: BUC-409022
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
I have examined a group of five coins reported found at Oakley, Buckinghamshire. All are official English coins, one of gold and thus produce…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SOM-6511E2
Object type: COIN HOARD
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Treasure Case 2014 T735: Acquired by the Museum of Somerset
A group of eighteen gold and silver coins found during ground disturbance in p…
Workflow: Published