Latest news with #NorwichCastleMuseumandArtGallery
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Castle acquires largest Anglo-Saxon gold coin hoard
A museum is to become the new home to what is believed to be the largest collection of 7th Century gold coins found in Britain. Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery in Norfolk has acquired the hoard which is made up of 129 coins and includes 118 different coin designs and 51 different European mints. The hoard was discovered by two metal detectorists in a west Norfolk farmer's field between 2014 and 2020. Charles Bingham-Newland, chair of the Friends of the Norwich Museums, said: "The hoard will add immeasurably to our knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon period." The museum has been able to acquire the hoard with funding by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and The Wolfson Foundation. The collection is believed to most contain Frankish tremisses which were minted in the Merovingian Frankish kingdoms that occupied modern-day France, Germany, Switzerland and the Low Countries. They are said to be the first coins made and used in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire and predate the first gold coinage made in Anglo-Saxon England. The find is one of only eight hoards of this type of coin known from Europe and the third in the United Kingdom. Jail for PC who kept gold coin proceeds Largest hoard of gold Anglo-Saxon coins unearthed Anglo-Saxon coin hoard could be worth £400,000 When the coins were declared as treasure by a coroner's court in November 2021, Norwich Castle said it hoped to be able to acquire the hoard. At the time of their discovery, one finder notified the authorities whereas the other tried to sell a number of coins and was jailed for 16 months. Prior to their discovery, the largest hoard of coins from the same period was a purse of 101 coins discovered in Crondall, Hampshire, in 1828. Another purse found that contained 37 coins was discovered at the famous ship burial site in Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, which was excavated in 1939. Giving the coins to the museum will make sure they remain intact and accessible to researchers and visitors. Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at the castle, said: "This internationally significant find reflects the wealth and continental connections enjoyed by the early Kingdom of East Anglia. "Study of the hoard and its find spot has the potential to unlock our understanding of early trade and exchange systems and the importance of west Norfolk to East Anglia's ruling kings in the 7th Century." The hoard going on display marks the reopening of Norwich Castle's Anglo-Saxon and Viking Gallery which has been closed for several years while work to transform the castle's Norman Keep has been under way. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Museum work delay 'causing financial pressure' Detectorist finds hoard of Roman silver coins Country's treasure hotspots revealed by new data Norwich Castle
BBC News
20-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Norwich Castle acquires largest Anglo-Saxon gold coin hoard
A museum is to become the new home to what is believed to be the largest collection of 7th Century gold coins found in Britain. Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery in Norfolk has acquired the hoard which is made up of 129 coins and includes 118 different coin designs and 51 different European mints. The hoard was discovered by two metal detectorists in a west Norfolk farmer's field between 2014 and 2020. Charles Bingham-Newland, chair of the Friends of the Norwich Museums, said: "The hoard will add immeasurably to our knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon period." The museum has been able to acquire the hoard with funding by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and The Wolfson Foundation. The collection is believed to most contain Frankish tremisses which were minted in the Merovingian Frankish kingdoms that occupied modern-day France, Germany, Switzerland and the Low are said to be the first coins made and used in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire and predate the first gold coinage made in Anglo-Saxon England. The find is one of only eight hoards of this type of coin known from Europe and the third in the United Kingdom. When the coins were declared as treasure by a coroner's court in November 2021, Norwich Castle said it hoped to be able to acquire the hoard. At the time of their discovery, one finder notified the authorities whereas the other tried to sell a number of coins and was jailed for 16 months. Prior to their discovery, the largest hoard of coins from the same period was a purse of 101 coins discovered in Crondall, Hampshire, in 1828. Another purse found that contained 37 coins was discovered at the famous ship burial site in Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, which was excavated in 1939. Giving the coins to the museum will make sure they remain intact and accessible to researchers and visitors. Dr Tim Pestell, senior curator of archaeology at the castle, said: "This internationally significant find reflects the wealth and continental connections enjoyed by the early Kingdom of East Anglia."Study of the hoard and its find spot has the potential to unlock our understanding of early trade and exchange systems and the importance of west Norfolk to East Anglia's ruling kings in the 7th Century." The hoard going on display marks the reopening of Norwich Castle's Anglo-Saxon and Viking Gallery which has been closed for several years while work to transform the castle's Norman Keep has been under way. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Call for historians to solve medieval seal mystery
A treasure expert is appealing for local historians to solve a mystery around the owner of a medieval seal matrix. The 13th or 14th Century silver matrix - used to stamp an impression on wax seals - was discovered by a detectorist in March last year near Hedenham, Norfolk, Its inscription reveals it was the "Seal of John of Hedenham", but Norfolk's finds liaison officer Helen Geake said: "It's really difficult to find out who this person was." "I hope someone in the village might do a bit of investigation, including looking at the lists of parish priests to find out more about him," she said. The seal was found close to the village where he once lived, Dr Geake added. "I've reached the limit of what I can do, without being a specialist in the local history of Hedenham," she said. One source that might prove useful is the list of parish priests, but she said very few of them are put online, so it requires a visit to the church. "Of course, he might not be a vicar, but if so, we can rule that out," she said. Dr Geake has discovered a John of Hedenham witnessed a deed, but the document is undated. If it was signed before the 13th Century or after the 14th Century, it could have an entirely different man - added to which "there are masses of Johns" in the Middle Ages, she explained. The 23mm by 18.8mm find is only the fifth flat shield-shaped silver seal matrix to be recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database since it began in 1997. Its owner would have used the matrix to stamp an impression on wax to authenticate documents. Dr Geake added: "It's not unusual to find medieval seals with a place name, but it's not common to find them in the very village, because it's more likely you'd lose them when you were travelling." The find is the subject of a treasure inquest and Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is hoping to acquire it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Bishop's medieval coin brooch found in field 'Magical' medieval gold brooch found by detectorist Medieval monk's 'unique' seal matrix found Reporting treasure, Norfolk County Council
BBC News
22-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Help needed to identify Hedenham owner of medieval seal
A treasure expert is appealing for local historians to solve a mystery around the owner of a medieval seal matrix. The 13th or 14th Century silver matrix - used to stamp an impression on wax seals - was discovered by a detectorist in March last year near Hedenham, Norfolk, Its inscription reveals it was the "Seal of John of Hedenham", but Norfolk's finds liaison officer Helen Geake said: "It's really difficult to find out who this person was.""I hope someone in the village might do a bit of investigation, including looking at the lists of parish priests to find out more about him," she said. The seal was found close to the village where he once lived, Dr Geake added. "I've reached the limit of what I can do, without being a specialist in the local history of Hedenham," she said. One source that might prove useful is the list of parish priests, but she said very few of them are put online, so it requires a visit to the church."Of course, he might not be a vicar, but if so, we can rule that out," she said. Dr Geake has discovered a John of Hedenham witnessed a deed, but the document is undated. If it was signed before the 13th Century or after the 14th Century, it could have an entirely different man - added to which "there are masses of Johns" in the Middle Ages, she explained. The 23mm by 18.8mm find is only the fifth flat shield-shaped silver seal matrix to be recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database since it began in owner would have used the matrix to stamp an impression on wax to authenticate documents. Dr Geake added: "It's not unusual to find medieval seals with a place name, but it's not common to find them in the very village, because it's more likely you'd lose them when you were travelling."The find is the subject of a treasure inquest and Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is hoping to acquire it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
