Roman treasure found in pond dig: A man unearthed a priceless hoard of 20,000 Roman coins...

BBC News ^ | 3.11.04

[ambrose]

Roman treasure found in pond dig

A man unearthed a priceless hoard of 20,000 Roman coins as he dug a new fishpond in his back garden.

Experts say the money may date from the 4th Century and could be the biggest find of its kind in Britain.

The coins were crammed into a ceramic pot which broke up as it was dug out of the ground at Thornbury, Gloucestershire.

Now a coroner must decide if Ken Allen, who made the discovery, can keep the treasure.

Gail Boyle, from Bristol Museum, said: "This is the most amazing find of treasure to come out of this area for 30 years."

Mr Allen said: "It was a great surprise and at first I didn't realise what we had found.

"The pot was perfectly upright, I can't believe that this discovery was only 20ft from our house."

I can't believe that this discovery was only 20ft from our house.

Ken Allen Kurt Adams, the Finds Liaison Officer for Gloucestershire and Avon, said: "The coins identified so far can be attributed to Constantine the Great.

"The mint marks - a letter or symbol used to indicate the mint which produced the coin - suggest Trier, Germany and Constantinople as possible places of origin."

Treasure trove

The coins are in the care of Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery where they are being cleaned in a special laboratory.

They will then be taken to the British Museum in London for further examination.

A spokeswoman for Bristol Coroner's Court said that even though the coins were found on Mr Allen's property they could still be ruled as being property of the state.

"What determines this is if the coins were buried there intentionally or lost.

"It is possible somebody put them there and forgot about them, or never intended for them to be found.

"The coroner can rule whether they are the finder's treasure or not."

[farmfriend]

Gods, Graves, Glyphs
List for articles regarding early civilizations , life of all forms, - dinosaurs - etc.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this ping list.

[BikePacker]

Now a coroner must decide if Ken Allen, who made the discovery, can keep the treasure.

Ahhh... it was on HIS LAND.

[lelio]

Now a coroner must decide if Ken Allen, who made the discovery, can keep the treasure.

When the state brings in a coroner to decide if you can keep something, take that as a signal to let them have it.

[Bigg Red]

Wow!

[CindyDawg]

He should have never reported it.

[Bahbah]

This is an interesting one.

[11th Earl of Mar]

a coroner must decide if Ken Allen, who made the discovery, can keep the treasure

The coroner?

How about a second opinion from a pathologist?

[Henchman]

Seems these kinds of laws caused the rise of the US of A. Is there hope for Thornbury, Gloucestershire to rise? Ain't Socialism Grand, just ask a Democrat.

[BlessedByLiberty]

This list is one of the most exciting and informative out there. Thank you again.

[Gunslingr3]

A spokeswoman for Bristol Coroner's Court said that even though the coins were found on Mr Allen's property they could still be ruled as being property of the state.

Oh reeeeeallly

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

He should have never reported it.

Especially in socialist Britian.

Me? I would have sold them to a reputable coin dealer.

[CJ Wolf]

Pretty much the same type of crap they are trying to implement here in the US as well as anything found in the sea.

[mabelkitty]

I would have sold them on eBay.
One at a time.

[fuzzthatwuz]

"How about a second opinion from a pathologist?"

Probably in this case a proctologist opinion would be more appropriate!

[blam]

UK: While Digging In Backyard Man Unearths A Hoard Of 20,000 Roman Coins

[CindyDawg]

I think I would have had an auction somewhere neutral (off shore?) by invitation only to sell rare coins that had been in the family for a long time. (technically they were) Probably should stop by an island bank somewhere and make a deposit before going home too:')

[Polybius]

He should have never reported it

The Brits pay a good and fair price to the finder in "Treasure Trove" cases. Fourth Century Roman coins are the Ford Pintos of Roman numismatics. You can buy 'em by the hundreds on eBay. The historical value may be greater than the collector's value and the finder will benefit as a result.

[Burkeman1]

It amazes me why we even find coins at all from antiquity much less 20,000 of them in ne spot. What do you suppose the story behind this cache is? A wealthy merchant hiding money from the tax man but whose was killed or died suddenly without revealing this fortune? Or had inflation made the money worthless in the late 4th century in Britain? Was Rome's influence so weak that it's currency meant little and only those things that kept you alive mattered?

[farmfriend]

You are most welcome.