10.000 buried coins for first try

[prudden]

Get a load of this. Copied from collectors newsgroup.

 

FROM:

 

http://www.shropshirestar.com/2009/09/07/10000-roman-coins-unearthed/sd3275496/

 

Shropshire UK

 

10,000 Roman coins unearthed - Roman coins found in Shropshire

 

One of the largest hauls of Roman coins ever discovered

in Shropshire has been unearthed after nearly 1,700

years underground by a metal detector enthusiast on his

first treasure hunt, it was revealed today.

 

(Image of Coins)

http://www.shropshirestar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/sd3275496.jpg

 

The collection of more than 10,000 coins, most of which

were found inside a pot, was uncovered by Nick Davies

from Ford during a search of land in the Shrewsbury

area - just a month after he took up the hobby.

 

It was today described as a "large and important" find

by experts who say it is the biggest haul of Roman

coins to be found anywhere in Britain this year.

 

Peter Reavill, finds liaison officer for the Portable

Antiquities Scheme which records archaeological finds

made by the public, said the coins appear to date from

the period 320AD to 340AD, late in the reign of

Constantine I.

 

He said that among the coins were issues celebrating

the anniversary of the founding of Rome and

Constantinople. In total the coins and the pot weigh

more than 70lbs.

 

Mr Reavill said the exact location of the find could

not be revealed for security reasons.

 

He said: "This is probably one of the largest coin

hoards ever discovered in Shropshire. The finder,

Nick Davies, bought his first metal detector a month

ago and this is his first find made with it.

 

"The coins were placed in a very large storage jar

which had been buried in the ground about 1,700

years ago."

 

The coins will now be taken to the British Museum

for detailed examination, before a report is sent

to the coroner.

 

Mr Reavill said: "There seems to be a minimum of

10,000 coins, the majority of which are corroded

together in the pot.

 

"The coins are all bronze, and some of them have been

silver washed. They are known as nummi and were

common during the 4th century AD.

 

"The top of the pot had been broken in the ground

and a large number of the coins spread in the area.

All of these were recovered during the excavation

with the help of a metal detector. This added at

least another 300 coins to the total.

 

"It is likely that the hoard represents a person or

communities wealth, possibly as a payment for a

harvest. Why it was not collected by the owner is a

mystery, but one that we can share and enjoy 1,700

years after the fact."

 

 

..

 

[Schatzy]

Pretty cool story!!

[kryptonitecomics]

Too bad there weren't any silver or gold coins but still......a truly amazing find

[PerryHall]

Considering how badly corroded they are, it will be interesting to see how they conserve these coins assuming they even conserve them.