A birdwatcher recently made an astonishing discovery of a collection of Celtic gold coins dating back 2,000 years, valued at around £800,000. The anonymous metal detector enthusiast spotted a glimmer of gold while observing a buzzard in a freshly ploughed field in eastern England. After revealing a 2,000-year-old gold stater coin by cleaning off the mud, he quickly retrieved his metal detector and resumed his search. Surprisingly, he unearthed approximately 1,300 coins from around 40-50 AD over several hours of searching. Experts estimate that each coin could be worth up to £650, totaling the hoard’s value at £845,000.
The fortunate discoverer described witnessing a beautiful sight of golden coins spilling out of an urn he dug up in a freshly plowed field in eastern England. This remarkable find easily outdoes the previous Celtic treasure of 850 coins uncovered in Wickham Market, Suffolk, back in 2008 by another metal detector enthusiast. The person who stumbled upon this treasure wishes to remain anonymous but revealed that the potential financial gain would be a life-changing event for them. Recalling the moment, the detectorist shared with Treasure Hunting magazine that while he usually hunts for treasures, on that particular evening he was simply enjoying some bird watching. As he observed a buzzard chasing a pair of magpies, his attention shifted downwards and he spotted the precious coins lying in the freshly tilled soil along the field’s edge.
The man in his 50s, an avid birdwatcher, mistook the first coin he found for an old washer but soon recognized it as a valuable gold coin worth about £650. In total, he found around 1,300 of these coins. He excitedly shared, “I thought I had picked up an old washer, but when I felt its thickness and saw the glint of gold, I was in utter disbelief to discover a stunning Celtic gold stater. I then spotted another coin 2 feet away and hurried back home to grab my metal detector.”
He came back and used the device again, picking up a strong signal in the same spot. Digging down about 18 inches, he unearthed what appeared to be a copper bangle at first, but turned out to be the rim of a jug or urn filled with coins. With a gentle lift, a bunch of coins poured out, creating a breathtaking sight that he will never forget.
Overwhelmed by the discovery, he had to take a moment to catch his breath. He had only intended to go for a walk, but stumbled upon a hidden Celtic treasure. As he sat there in awe, a passing dog walker jokingly asked if he had found any gold yet. Little did they know the incredible find he had just made.
Boudicca, also known as Boadicea, led a rebellion against the Romans around 60-61AD. A recent discovery of coins in eastern England is believed to possibly be a part of her war chest. The person who found the coins described their unexpected treasure hunting experience with a spade, metal detector, and two shopping bags hoping they wouldn’t break under the weight. After collecting the haul in supermarket carrier bags, they reported it to the local coroner’s office, in charge of handling valuable findings in Britain. Boudicca, a Celtic warrior, was engaged in battle with the Roman forces during this time. The coins could have been funds set aside for her military campaigns in the east. The discovered hoard is now undergoing the necessary procedures outlined in the Treasure Act of 1996.
A decision on what to do with the recently discovered coins will be made by a coroner. They will determine if the finder must offer the items to a museum at a set price or if they can keep them. Any profits made will need to be split with the landowner. Jules Evans-Hart, who is the editor of Treasure Hunting magazine, described the find as incredible. Between 950 and 1,300 coins have been counted, many of which were still in supermarket bags. This discovery adds significantly to our knowledge of numismatics and will be studied extensively in the years to come. The coins could potentially be part of a “war chest” for Boudicca’s campaigns in the east. The previous record was 850 coins in the Wickham Market Hoard from 2008, but this new find is likely to surpass that number.
