A discovery of 600 ancient coins dating back to medieval times was made in Buckinghamshire, estimated to be valued at £150,000.
Dariusz Fijalkowski, Mateusz Nowak, Andrew Winter, and Tobiasz Nowak made an amazing discovery of a treasure trove. The group, which included Andrew Winter, Dom Rapley, Eryk Wierucki, Jaroslaw Giedyna, Dariusz Fijalkowski, and brothers Tobiasz and Mateusz Nowak, found the hoard and even camped out by the dig site to prevent theft.
During an inquest at Beaconsfield Coroners Court, senior coroner Crispin Butler confirmed that the hoard met the criteria for treasure, as outlined in a report by Dr. Barrie Cook from the British Museum. The discovery included 12 rare gold nobles from 1346 to 1351, with only 12 known examples recorded in a survey from 1963.
The rest of the hoard consisted of 547 silver pennies from the reigns of Edward I and II, 21 Irish pennies, 20 continental coins, and 27 Scottish pennies from the reign of Alexander III, John Balliol, and Robert the Bruce. The final settlement will be determined by negotiations between the museum and the finders and landowners.
Mateusz Nowak, a hospital cleaner from Newcastle, described the moment of finding the hoard as “unreal” and “a miracle moment after moment for everyone” as they continued to uncover more treasures with each excavation.
Museums can now participate in auctions for the coveted coins that have been classified as treasure by a coroner.
A coroner has described the discovery of 12 gold nobles from the years 1346 to 1351 as incredibly rare, with only a total of 12 known examples uncovered during a survey conducted in 1963. Despite having a face value of just over £6 in today’s currency, experts estimate that the coins could be worth as much as £150,000.
Dariusz Fijalkowski, a machine operator and father-of-three from Bristol, stumbled upon the hoard after finding a thimble, which he was already thrilled about. As he continued his search, he found two silver coins before joining forces with other treasure hunters, who also made significant discoveries. Reflecting on the experience, Dariusz expressed his excitement about finding the silver coins, describing them as small but valuable pieces of history.
The unexpected find took place during a metal detecting rally held in a field near Hambleden, a village with a rich history dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086. According to the rules of treasure hunting, any discovery exceeding three coins is categorized as a ‘hoard,’ necessitating a declaration to the event organizers. Despite expecting a leisurely break from his parental duties, Dariusz found himself caught up in the exhilarating search, feeling the lingering excitement and pressure from the remarkable experience.
The collection consists of several unique coins that were previously only found in the British Isles during a single instance back in 1963, when a total of 12 of them were uncovered.
During their first day of searching, the group uncovered a total of 276 silver coins and nine gold nobles. As a team, they cleared and staked claim to the area before continuing their search individually. The excitement was palpable as news of their discovery spread throughout the festival, attracting detectorists from around the world eager to witness the find firsthand. Over the course of three days, the team’s collection grew to include a total of 545 silver coins, along with fragments, and 12 gold nobles. Despite some members being relatively new to the hobby, they all agree that the experience was both thrilling and exhausting. Anni Byard, the finds liaison officer for the area, was brought in to oversee the excavation process, meticulously documenting the location of each coin on a grid. The team plans to have the collection evaluated independently before selling it, with profits shared with the landowner.
