Archaeologists excavating the site of highway construction in the Hillingdon neighborhood of West London have unearthed a hoard of more than 300 rare coins from the late Iron Age. The Hillingdon Hoard was found after a rainstorm exposed a patch of greenish soil indicating the presence of oxidized metal. Upon closer examination, the team spotted slim metal discs packed in the soil which proved to potins from the 1st century B.C.
The find in situ.
Potins are coins made of a mixture of copper, tin and lead cast in Britain but copying an earlier Celtic coin minted 2,175 years ago in what is now Marseille. They are about 1.2 inches in diameter A stylized profile of Apollo facing left is on the obverse. A bull charging to the right is on the reverse.
So, no intrinsic value, but plenty of numismatic value. An interesting bit of history. One wonders how many other hoards lie sleeping in the soil of old England.
"copper, tin and lead"
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Sounds like bullet material to me.
It's been awhile since I saw a Bic pen!
ReplyDeleteCounterfeit coins? I guess that depends on what the original Celtic coins were made of.
The English Antiquities Act of 1975 states that any artifacts found must be reported to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage within 28 days. In other words you heart may belong to Jesus, but the coins belong to the government
ReplyDeleteThey still find a lot of stuff. Farmers still turn up a lot. There is spot on the Thames that is the easiest to cross where they still find artifacts. I heard that if it doesn't have great worth or historical significance they will give it back to you. But why would you even report it.
DeleteI wonder if archaeologists walk with their head down looking at the ground. I think most persons would have walked right past that 'hoard'. (That's a hoard in the same manner that five guns is and arsenal)
ReplyDeleteI imagine it required gifted hands to separate the individual coins after laying welded together in that mess.
But look at the large pieces of chert in that photo. I wonder if they also be looking for evidence of arrow or spear point making.
England's Antiquities Act does a great deal to DISCOURAGE archeological activity. Anything valuable that someone finds automatically belongs to the government. The people do the work...the government profits. Means there is
ReplyDeleteNO incentive for amateurs to search.