A remarkable collection of more than 9,000 Roman coins, affectionately dubbed the "muddy hoard" by experts, has been unveiled at St Ives Museum in Cambridgeshire.
Discovered by a diligent metal detectorist in a field near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, in 2018, this treasure trove was officially declared as such in 2021. The coins were found nestled inside two pottery containers, reminiscent of Russian nesting dolls.
The director of the Norris Museum, Claire Hardy, expressed the significance of this acquisition, stating, "It is by far the most significant acquisition the museum has ever made." These Roman coins, made of base metal, likely concealed during a period of turmoil following the breakaway empire of the 3rd Century, span across the reigns of 14 Emperors and 1 Empress. Notably, the collection includes a previously undocumented coin, a denarius of Emperor Tetricus I.
The county's finds liaison officer, Helen Fowler, in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Brown from the British Museum, conducted a meticulous excavation of the hoard in 2018. Fowler described the unique discovery, explaining, "It had originally been hidden in two pottery containers, one nested directly inside the other, a bit like Russian dolls."
Regarding the significance of the hoard, Ms. Hardy added, "Given the quantity, composition, and quality of some of the coins, it could be counted as one of the ten most significant Roman coin hoards yet found in the UK." Furthermore, she highlighted that it represents "the largest coin hoard ever found in Cambridgeshire."
The exhibition will be open for six months, during which the museum will raise funds for its permanent display.
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Published: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-66827194
Date Published: Saturday 16 September 2023
Image courtesy of: Douglal
