Badger Bart
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http://www.iwcp.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1252&ArticleID=1244313
04 November 2005
HUGE HOARD OF IRON AGE COINS FOUND
By Gavin Foster
THE LARGEST hoard of Iron Age coins ever found on the Island has been unearthed by metal detectors.
The haul of nearly 1,000 base silver coins was dug up over two weeks at a secret West Wight location by members of the IW Metal Detecting Club.
But this week it also emerged the find is unlikely to be bought by the IW Museums Service for local display.
County museums officer Dr Mike Bishop said his budget was empty and unless new funding was found, the service could not afford the many thousands of pounds at which the haul would inevitably be valued by the British Museum.
The coins were originally buried in a primitive clay pot and then scattered over the site by successive years of ploughing.
Frank Basford, IW Council finds liaison officer, said 940 pieces made of a silver and copper alloy had been unearthed.
"It is an important, significant find. Iron Age coins themselves are common but it is very unusual to find them in this quantity," he said.
"This is certainly the largest hoard of its kind ever found on the IW.
"It is impossible to say how the coins came to be buried. They could have been some sort of community savings and Iron Age people would sometimes bury their wealth in times of stress or trouble."
IW Metal Detecting Club founder and chairman Dave Clark said the first of the coins was discovered by Shanklin member Albert Snell.
More were subsequently uncovered by other members in what became a team effort. A quarter of the coins were found scattered over a large area of agricultural land away from the main hoard, he said.
"It was recovered over the course of a week by 16 of our members. They were all given an opportunity to dig.
"It was such a wonderful occasion seeing these coins popping up everywhere," said Mr Clark.
He said he did not want to speculate on the value of the find.
"We are not in this for the money. Our club motto is 'pleasure not profit'. We just get a thrill from playing our part in helping discover the IW heritage."
He said the location of the find was being kept a closely guarded secret to respect the wishes of the landowner, who did not want unauthorised or unscrupulous treasure hunters on his land.
04 November 2005
HUGE HOARD OF IRON AGE COINS FOUND
By Gavin Foster
THE LARGEST hoard of Iron Age coins ever found on the Island has been unearthed by metal detectors.
The haul of nearly 1,000 base silver coins was dug up over two weeks at a secret West Wight location by members of the IW Metal Detecting Club.
But this week it also emerged the find is unlikely to be bought by the IW Museums Service for local display.
County museums officer Dr Mike Bishop said his budget was empty and unless new funding was found, the service could not afford the many thousands of pounds at which the haul would inevitably be valued by the British Museum.
The coins were originally buried in a primitive clay pot and then scattered over the site by successive years of ploughing.
Frank Basford, IW Council finds liaison officer, said 940 pieces made of a silver and copper alloy had been unearthed.
"It is an important, significant find. Iron Age coins themselves are common but it is very unusual to find them in this quantity," he said.
"This is certainly the largest hoard of its kind ever found on the IW.
"It is impossible to say how the coins came to be buried. They could have been some sort of community savings and Iron Age people would sometimes bury their wealth in times of stress or trouble."
IW Metal Detecting Club founder and chairman Dave Clark said the first of the coins was discovered by Shanklin member Albert Snell.
More were subsequently uncovered by other members in what became a team effort. A quarter of the coins were found scattered over a large area of agricultural land away from the main hoard, he said.
"It was recovered over the course of a week by 16 of our members. They were all given an opportunity to dig.
"It was such a wonderful occasion seeing these coins popping up everywhere," said Mr Clark.
He said he did not want to speculate on the value of the find.
"We are not in this for the money. Our club motto is 'pleasure not profit'. We just get a thrill from playing our part in helping discover the IW heritage."
He said the location of the find was being kept a closely guarded secret to respect the wishes of the landowner, who did not want unauthorised or unscrupulous treasure hunters on his land.
