A large trove of Roman coins in Britain was unearthed by a hobbyist using a metal detector, making it one of the largest discoveries of its kind in the country.
Laurence Egerton, a 51-year-old man, stumbled upon a fascinating discovery while exploring land near Seaton in East Devon. Worried about potential theft, he decided to camp out for three nights to guard the site until archaeologists could properly excavate it.
Named the Seaton Down Hoard, this impressive collection of 22,000 copper-alloy coins is believed to have been buried by an individual or soldier for safekeeping but was never retrieved. This significant find has been declared treasure in East Devon and is sure to be a thrilling addition to a museum display in the near future. Keep an eye out for more updates on this exciting uncovering!
Mr. Egerton’s recent discovery is not only one of the largest hoards ever found, following the Frome Hoard and a hoard in North Cornwall, but it is also one of the most well-preserved collections from the 4th century. After a Devon Coroner’s Inquest declared it as treasure, the collection will now be assessed by the Treasure Valuation Committee for potential acquisition by a museum. While the Frome Hoard was valued at £320,000, Mr. Egerton’s collection may cost around £100,000. Despite this, the Frome Hoard was considered more valuable due to its mixture of silver and copper.
When the treasure was buried, it would have been equivalent to four gold coins, which could sustain someone’s salary for one year or a worker’s pay for two years. According to Professor Neville Morley from Bristol University, the value of money varied greatly in ancient times, making it difficult to determine the exact purchasing power. This historical treasure holds significant value – just think of all the things one could purchase with it back in the day.
