The world’s largest ever hoard of iron age coins which were found in a field have have been bought from the Queen by the island of Jersey for £4million.
Amateur metal detectorists, who spent years combing the same field for decades, discovered the “Le Catillon II” hoard in 2012.
In the 1980s, Reg Miles and Richard Miles were tipped off by a woman who claimed she saw silver buttons on something.
In 2012, two amateur metal detectorists discovered that the “Le Catillon II” hoard had been accumulated. They’d spent years combing one field.
The final result was that 69.347 coins, which were hidden in a mound filled with clay and covered by a hedge, were discovered. They had been underground for 2000 years.
The coins had been estimated to be worth £10 million.
A large mound made of clay measuring 140 x 80x 20 cm and containing the Roman, Celtic, and silver coins and their gold equivalents was used to enclose them. It weighed three-quarters of an ounce and measured approximately 140 x 80x 20 cm.
The Government later declared the hoard a “treasure”, meaning the coins become the property the Queen. But the two men did receive a reward.
Neil Mahrer is seen looking at the coins. After 2000 years underground, 69,347 of the coins were discovered under a hedge, in a mound made from clay.
A sum of £4.25m was paid and agreed by the Council of Ministers from the civil asset recovery fund, which is money recovered from criminal activities.
Jersey Heritage will continue to care for the historical collection of coins.
Part of the financial settlement included a £250,000 payment to Jersey Heritage for their work towards dismantling the coins, and an additional £250,000 which will be used to establish a trust.
John Le Fondre the Chief Minister of Jersey stated the purchase was made in the “interest of the island”.
According to him, the BBC’s decision was a result that will preserve Jersey’s unique history for future generations.
“Since it was discovered nine years ago, Jersey Heritage conservators have been studying the hoard with archaeologists and volunteers. But, the hoard still has a lot to tell us about Jersey, our world and where we are at the time that Christ lived.”
1978 was the year that Wiltshire’s largest ever coin hoard was discovered at Cunetio, a former Roman settlement near Mildenhall.