Iron Age coin hoard declared as treasure

A HOARD of 17 Iron Age coins found in the Dursley area of Gloucestershire nearly 30 years ago have finally been declared as treasure by a coroner.

The coins, 16 silver and one gold, were unearthed over a period of years between 1993 and 1995 by local man Michael Jones, said Gloucestershire deputy coroner Roland Wooderson on Thursday.

Experts have dated them between 50BC and 10AD.

The silver coins have been identified as Western British Iron Age units of the ‘Cotswolds Eagle’ type (50 to 20BC) and the single gold coin, known as a ‘Stater’, is inscribed ‘Corio’ and was produced between 20BC and AD10.

Kurt Adams, finds liaison officer for Gloucestershire and Avon, said: “These coins have traditionally been associated with the tribe known as the Dobunni and were produced in the area of the modern counties of Gloucestershire, Avon and western Oxfordshire and parts of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Somerset.

“At least two of the coins have been struck from the same die.”

The coroner said: “They were found over several years from 1993 to 1995.

“It was only after the finder was recently going over his collection of past finds that he realised these coins could be a scattered hoard.

“Because of the period when the finds were made they do not come under the 1996 Treasure

Act but instead the old law of ‘Treasure Trove.’

“The items are currently held at Bristol Museum and the British Museum have been informed.

“I have received a letter of December 16, 2021, from Dr Denise Wilding, the Treasure Registrar of the British Museum.

“Her letter says the coins appear to qualify as treasure in terms of both their age and their precious metal content.

“The Museum in the Park in Stroud has expressed an interest in acquiring them.

“These coins are considered to have been deposited as part of the hoarding of wealth with the intention of returning and recovering them at a later date.

“It is probable that they were deliberately hidden.

“I have heard from Michael Jones, the finder, who does not intend to attend the inquest but confirms that he had the permission of the landowner.

“I can therefore record that these items were found, formally, on January 1, 1995, in Gloucestershire by Mr Jones and there was an agreement between him and the landowner.

“The coins are indeed treasure.”