A pair of metal detectorists exploring an open field in Anglesey, Wales, discovered an Iron Age treasure trove of 15 gold coins. According to a statement from the Museum of Wales, these coins represent the “first time” Iron Age coins have been found in Wales. Furthermore, each coin features mystical and intricate designs and materials, providing insight into trade and social values during Iron Age Britain.
Aerial image of the island of Anglesey in Wales, where Iron Age treasure was found. (Patrick O’Neill/Adobe Stock)
The symbols on Iron Age treasures serve as keys
The landscape of Iron Age Wales, spanning from about 800 BC to 74 AD, was a combination of natural beauty and human interaction. Rolling hills, dense forests and vast coastal areas are bordered by fortified fortresses and strategically located ceremonial spaces. Rivers represent important trade routes that facilitate the exchange of ideas and goods, including gold coins.
The Museum of Wales statement reporting the find of the Iron Age treasure explains that 15 well-preserved coins, known as staters, were struck (minted) sometime between 60 BC and 20 AD. BC, at three different mints in what is now Lincolnshire, in England.
“The obverse (head) shows Apollo’s wreath and hair, while the back (tail) shows a horse with a stylized triangular head with various symbols surrounding it,” reads the press release. announced the discovery of Iron Age treasure said.
The statement added that this type of coin was very popular in ancient Greece. Archaeologists at the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust have linked the 15 coins to the Corieltavi tribe, which dominated the modern East Midlands during the late Iron Age.
Experts have concluded that the Iron Age treasure, made up of gold coins, was minted by the Corieltavi tribe between 60 BC and 20 BC. (Amgueddfa Cymru – Welsh Museum)
Introducing the group that found the Iron Age treasure
Two metal detectorists unearthed 15 Iron Age coins between July 2021 and March 2022, after which they contacted the British Museum and the Museum of Wales Portable Antiquities Program . Earlier this week, heritage authorities declared 15 coins official “national treasures”. So who are the treasure hunters?
Lloyd Roberts, who found the first coins in the hoard, has been hunting for the treasure for 14 years, and in the statement he said “finding a gold coin is always at the top of the priority list my wish”. Roberts says that “after contacting the Portable Antiquities Program , we both just sat in our seats, drinking coffee and imagining our surroundings and what people’s lives were like over 2,000 years ago! ”
Robert’s teammate Tim Watson, who found 10 coins, said he scanned the field and never found anything of interest. Describing the find of the Iron Age treasure, Watson explained; “I rushed home to show my wife and we both admired this coin, it was unlike anything else I had ever found, perfectly preserved with unusual stylized images like So.” Fascinated, the couple invested in a new metal detector. In the following weeks, Watson unearthed nine other Iron Age coins.
Why are Iron Age treasures “extremely rare”?
The Museum of Wales said the find was “extremely rare”. This is not just due to the symbols or the time period in which the coin was used. Instead, the interest in Iron Age treasures lies in the fact that although the Iron Age tribes of the region did not generally use the currencies of other cultures, these coins were minted in Lincolnshire, Modern England.
The museum said the island’s search area was an “important religious center” from the first century BC to the first century AD. They speculate that the coins were probably sent as “offerings to the gods,” an idea supported by depictions of the God Apollo.
Once archaeologists complete their analysis of the coins discovered in Wales, they will be displayed at the Oriel Mon museum and gallery in Anglesey. They will be displayed alongside an already splendid collection of Iron Age artifacts and relics, including metalwork, pottery and complex tools, all of which provide insights into the culture. ancient culture of the sacred island.
Top image: The Iron Age treasure found on the Anglesey fields was made up of a hoard of 15 gold coins. Source: Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum of Wales
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