Treasure hunters have discovered more than 2,000 silver coins buried for nearly 1,000 years on a farm in England and are set to receive a substantial financial reward.
On Tuesday, the BBC reported that the South West Heritage Trust, a charity that operates museums, acquired 2,584 silver coins from the Norman period with government funding for 4.3 million pounds (approximately $5.6 million). This acquisition is said to represent the most expensive treasure ever unearthed in the UK.
The coins were discovered in 2019 by seven amateur treasure hunters using metal detectors on a farm in southwestern England.
Experts have established that the discovered silver coins were minted between 1066 and 1068—an iconic period in British history— and hold considerable historical significance.
During this era, the French Norman dynasty invaded England, overthrowing the Anglo-Saxon dynasty. Half of the coins depict Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon king who reigned in 1066, while the other half feature William I, the founder of the Norman dynasty that reigned from 1066 to 1087.
Experts speculate that the coins were buried for safekeeping amid a rebellion against the Norman dynasty in southwestern England.
The UK Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Bryant, remarked to the BBC, “These remarkable silver coins will provide unique insights into one of the most turbulent and significant moments in British history.”
Under the Treasure Act enacted in 1996, anyone who discovers treasure in the UK must report it to local authorities. If classified as treasure, it becomes government property, allowing museums to bid for its acquisition.
According to current law, the compensation for treasure is shared equally between the landowner and the finder. The BBC reported that the seven treasure hunters who discovered the coins agreed to equally split 2.15 million pounds (approximately $2.8 million).
One of the finders, Michael Staples, shared with the BBC, “I have already spent a few hundred thousand pounds on buying a house.” He added, “I hope to live a life free from debt and have more time to search for other treasures.”
