Treasure hunter unearths 6,000 gold coins -- Ancien Roman Coins
Arizona Coin Collector
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/10/30/treasure-hunter-unearths-6-000-gold-coins-91466-22154391/
Wales Online -- United Kingdom
Treasure hunter unearths 6,000 gold coins
Oct 30 2008 WalesOnline
A deposit of almost 6,000 ancient Roman coins was
unearthed in a farmer's field by a metal
detecting enthusiast.
A present-day value is yet to be put on the coins,
found buried in two pots and compared by one
expert to an early single European currency.
The pots' combined contents of 5,913 copper-alloy
coins from the early fourth century were uncovered
over two days in April near Sully, in the Vale of
Glamorgan.
Most of the coins were minted in London, Trier and
Lyon, but some came from more distant imperial
outposts in what is now Croatia and Syria.
National Museum Wales numismatist Edward Besly said
the Emperor Diocletian reformed the Roman currency
around 295AD, although some of the coins belonged to
an earlier denomination.
He said: "They are the same standard, same design.
"An early single currency is one way of looking at
it."
Derek Eveleigh, 79, who came across the hoards in
a field of sheep, said: "I had a signal first and
when it was deep I thought I better dig it - and
that was it."
The coins will be valued by an independent committee
after Cardiff coroner Mary Hassell declared them
treasure at a hearing today.
Mr Besly told the court the "substantial hoards"
were probably buried by a local landowner, perhaps
to protect his savings.
"It was quite an enterprise to clean nearly 6,000
coins just to get the mud off them," he said.
Outside court, he said the museum hoped to eventually
buy the coins and show them to the public.
"This is certainly exceptional in Welsh terms.
"We have to find the money to reward the landowner
and the finder.
"It would be a significant acquisition. Quite apart
from the intrinsic interest as a find, with the two
pots it could be quite a spectacular display item."
Mr Eveleigh, of Penarth, added: "All I found before
was thrupenny bits and bits of metal.
"I have had to keep it quiet all these months.
"Someone told me that when you find one hoard you
find two."
..
Bob
>
> Oct 30 2008 WalesOnline
>
> A deposit of almost 6,000 ancient Roman coins was
> unearthed in a farmer's field by a metal
> detecting enthusiast.
>
> A present-day value is yet to be put on the coins,
> found buried in two pots and compared by one
> expert to an early single European currency.
>
> The pots' combined contents of 5,913 copper-alloy
> coins from the early fourth century were uncovered
> over two days in April near Sully, in the Vale of
> Glamorgan.
Sorry, another newspaper error--the article plainly states that these
"gold" coins are made of "copper-alloy." From an illustration, this
is true. Also, the finder's idea of value seems way out of line, not
that he won't do pretty well.
MJKolodziej
"Bob" <RLWin...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:8ad7a2ac-f70e-4a80...@17g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
I thought that it was declared "treasure". Does that mean it was claimed by
the government or does he keep it?
mk
Bob
wrote:
> "Bob" <RLWinne...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> - Show quoted text -
Under the U.K. Portable Antiquities Scheme, all finds of this nature
must be reported. In this case, the find was declared to be
"treasure" within the meaning of the act. The finders will divide the
full value with the landowner; either the hoard will be acquired
intact by a museum, or perhaps some coins will be taken, or the whole
thing may be disclaimed and returned to the finders. The museum is
required to pay market value for anything kept. If they can't afford
it, they have to disclaim the coins. The finders then receive the
coins back, certified authentic by the British Museum, and can consign
them to auction or sell them outright.
While there might be some rarities in this hoard, generally coins of
this type are very common (constantly offered for sale on eBay and
VCoins), so the museum would be mainly interested in the whole hoard
for display, I should think. Alternately, they might want to select a
type set of emperors to show the types of coins that circulated
locally in Roman times.
oly
>
> - Show quoted text -
I've seen two different internet articles on new large hoard finds in
the U.K. in recent days. One was indeed a copper coin find, this
one??? It does seem that the two hoards were in widely separated
areas of England. OTOH, 6000 gold coins would certainly be an immense
find. There seems to be some confusion.
oly
oly
>
> - Show quoted text -
It is also interesting on the new copper hoard find, that one of the
two finders found an earlier Roman hoard, but did not turn over all
the artifacts to the authorities. As a result, when this came to
light, his reward was "reduced" from 120,000 GB pounds to only 31,000
GB pounds. There is even a possibility that when he found this second
hoard, that he brought in a friend as the "discoverer" because of his
previous problems with the authorities.
oly
Bruce Remick
"oly" <oly...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:ddec0bed-5adf-4b94...@p31g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
oly
*****************
In the context of the article, couldn't something like 9kt gold be
considered a "copper alloy" (almost half copper)? Perhaps the article
meant to describe a lower quality gold, if that was ever used in the type of
coins discovered.
oly
Bob
Both hoards are bronze, possibly silver-washed, but bronze. There are
no 9k Roman gold coins. The headline writer neglected to read the
actual story before writing the article.
oly
>
> - Show quoted text -
Pls note that it wasn't oly who suggested 9kt Roman Gold coins. The
Romans messed with the silver, messed with the bronze, but except for
a small downwards adjustment by Nero, they kept the gold pretty
sacrosanct. The Army wouldn't fight unless they got good gold coins.
oly
Bob
Sorry for any confusion on that point, oly.
Charles Cooper
news:ged6en$oe3> I thought that it was declared "treasure". Does that mean
it was claimed by
> the government or does he keep it?
> mk
Lesson: Never never never ever report a "find". Because in the end you
will be "butt reamed" by the thieving government.
oly
> "MJKolodziej" <mjmwcsREMOVEKILLERCH...@htcomp.net> wrote in message
I have read a lot of updated stuff on the British treasure hunting
situation, and I think I would feel comfortable with how they do
things. Actually, under the British Portable Antiquities scheme and
the New Treasure Act, you will get far more value if the museums want
your find. The county coroner will hire two or three experts to make
a valuation and that's what the finder is paid. Often, the British
Museum is involved and they need to maintain a pristine reputation for
fairness - to ensure that they get first crack at future wonderous
finds. Finally, there is a process to appeal this valuation decision
if the finder thinks it is too low.
Why will the finder get more money??? Because no dealers are
involved. No middlemen. No boney-assed hyenas.
And also understand that nowadays, if you are selling something
clandestinely, the shady dealers know it too and they could turn you
in to the authorities at any moment. Do you think that helps prices
paid???
Of course, if you are poaching on somebody else's land, then you might
have to go through the real thieves and fences - the dealers - but you
are a thief too.
oly