First Iron Age gold coins of their kind found in the country among 15 distinct artifacts. A cache of Iron Age gold coins has been unearthed in Wales for the very first time on record.
The vibrant treasure consisting of 15 unusual artifacts was discerned amidst the fields of Anglesey Island, located off the northwestern coast of Wales, spanning from July 2021 up until March 2022. This monumental find has now been remarked upon as a "treasure" by the authorities, as per a press release from the Museum of Wales.
The distinct coins, classified as staters, have been traced back to the period between 60 and 20 B.C.E. They exhibit the depiction of deity Apollo on one side, while the other side is graced by an encircled horse amidst a variety of icons. The coins are stylistically reminiscent of Macedonian gold coins associated with Phillip II, suggest the researchers.
Lloyd Roberts and Peter Cockton, who are close friends, stumbled upon five of these valued coins during their search. Roberts, who has been venturing into historical excavations for over 14 years, remarks on discovering gold staters as the ultimate desire on his bucket list. His enthusiasm is evident in his statement to the museum when he found the first coin, stating that it would've been enough to make his entire year. A short while later, he and Cockton found another four coins between them.
A newcomer to the metal detecting field, Tim Watson, managed to find the remaining ten coins in this treasure trove. Watson indicated that he was inspired to try his hand at metal detecting by his dad during the lockdown constraints. He stated that although his initial forays into the field yielded little of interest, he literally hit a gold mine one fateful evening. Eager to explore more, he upgraded his metal detector and discovered a further nine coins in the area.
History Hidden in Plain Sight: The Tale of Corieltavi Coins and Their Discovery in Wales"
Upon uncovering the treasure, specialists from the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust, a Welsh archaeology agency, conducted a comprehensive examination of the site, aiming to unravel the mystery behind the presence of the coins there.
Sean Derby, the historic environment record archaeologist of the institute, noted how this treasure trove perfectly showcases the profound archaeological wealth found in northwest Wales. Although the immediate surroundings of the discovery failed to provide any substantial hints regarding the origin of the find, the locus of the discovery is within a zone recognized for significant prehistoric and early Roman activity. Therefore, this increases our familiarity and knowledge about this specific location.
The coins, the researchers deduced, had been employed by the Corieltavi tribe. This tribe resided in the region currently known as England's East Midlands during the Iron Age. Unlikely to have been utilized as a conventional means of trade, they may have served alternatively as elite gifts to strengthen alliances or as offerings to their deities.
Gareth Harris of The Art Newspaper divulged that Oriel Môn, an Anglesey museum, is keen on procuring the trove of coins for the purpose of public exhibition.
