In 2019, amateur metal detectorists in England's Chew Valley uncovered a hoard of 2,584 silver coins dating to between 1066 and 1068 — and now it's officially the most valuable treasure ever found in the United Kingdom.
British MuseumThe trove of 2,584 silver coins discovered in England’s Chew Valley.
In January 2019, a group of metal detectorists in Chew Valley of southern England stumbled upon an extraordinary cache of 2,584 silver coins dating back nearly 1,000 years to the Norman Conquest. These coins include rare pieces minted during the turbulent period surrounding the Norman invasion of England in 1066, which ultimately saw William the Conqueror crowned as the first Norman king of England.
The hoard features historical figures from the time period, such as William the Conqueror, Edward the Confessor, and Harold II. Experts believe these coins were likely hidden during the chaos following the invasion. Now, the South West Heritage Trust has purchased the collection for $5.6 million, making it the most valuable treasure ever found in the United Kingdom.
The coins are scheduled to debut at the British Museum in November and travel across the country before ultimately taking up permanent residence at the Museum of Somerset, where visitors can view these remarkable artifacts from a pivotal chapter in English history year-round.
Metal Detectorists Discover A Hoard Of Norman Coins
British MuseumA coin from the trove featuring Edward the Confessor, who ruled England from 1042 until his death in 1066.
On Jan. 26, 2019, seven metal detectorists were searching a field in the Chew Valley in southern England when they uncovered something truly amazing: a trove of 2,584 silver coins.
“It was totally unbelievable — to find one would be an exceptional day metal detecting,” Adam Staples, the metal detectorist who found the bulk of the coins alongside his partner Lisa Grace, told the BBC in 2019. “To find two unrelated coins would be almost impossible. And when there were more beeps, from two to 10, from 50 to 100, to wow how many are there? From then on it was just crazy.”
Staples and the rest of the team reported the find to the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme, a service that allows the public to disclose archaeological discoveries.
Under the examination of experts, the coins were confirmed to date back to the Norman Conquest of England nearly a millennia ago.
The Norman Conquest began in 1066 after the death of the Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor. Led by William the Conqueror of Normandy, the French Normans successfully crossed the English Channel and succeeded in taking control of the English throne. These events were immortalized in the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the most important historical artifacts in English history.
Public DomainA piece of the Bayeux Tapestry showing Norman troops crossing the English Channel and landing in Sussex.
About half of the coins feature William the Conqueror, while the other half display the portrait of Harold II, the last Saxon king of England who ruled for just nine months after Edward the Confessor’s death. Only one contains a depiction of Edward.
Experts believe that the coins were buried for safekeeping as rebellions against the new Norman king broke out in southern England — and they remained beneath the ground for almost 1,000 years.
The Chew Valley Coin Hoard Sells For A Whopping $5.6 Million
British MuseumAmal Khreisheh, the curator of archaeology at the South West Heritage Trust, posing with the coins.
In the years following the discovery of the hoard, experts carefully restored and studied the coins to evaluate their worth. Now, the South West Heritage Trust has purchased the coins for $5.6 million. According to a press release by the British Museum, this makes the coins the “highest value treasure on record” in U.K. history. The proceeds will go to both the metal detectorists and the owner of the land on which the artifacts were found.
Adam Staples, who has already received his cut of the payout, was both shocked and delighted at the news.
“I’ve found lots of amazing things but to see something like this coming up and realize you’ve finally hit the big one, it’s just a dream come true,” Staples said. “I’ve got a few hundred thousand pounds out of it and I bought a house. I’m going to live mortgage-free and hopefully have a bit more time to go and find something else.”
As for the future of the coins, they are scheduled to appear in museums across the U.K. beginning with the British Museum in November. From there, the coins will travel around the country before returning to their permanent home at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.
As Sir Chris Bryant, England’s Heritage Minister, stated in the press release, “This remarkable hoard gives us unique insight into our country’s rich history and one of the most important moments in our history, when these islands were thrown into turmoil by the Norman Conquest.”
After reading about the Norman coin hoard discovered in Chew Valley, dive into the story of William the Conqueror’s bizarre death after ruling as England’s first Norman king. Then, read about the 1933 Double Eagle, the most expensive coin in the world.
