Firstly, may I wish you a very happy new year! I hope you enjoyed the festive period as much as I did and are now ready to go back to ‘normal’, what ever that is!
Our winter newsletter is full of interesting finds and collections which we have been working hard to catalogue, research and present for sale exclusively via our website. Our star hoard this month comes from Dorset in the South West of England and dates back to the Iron Age, a real treasure find which we’re proud to have been chosen to handle the sale of. Interestingly, we have been selected to handle most of the disclaimed Iron Age coin hoards in the last 15 years, testimony to our team’s hard work and excellent research/presentation. Thank you to the finders and keep them coming. This week also sees the launch of ‘The Warwick collection’, an excellent assemblage of English Medieval coins and lastly, below you will find a small selection of the latest additions to our premium listings.
Enjoy!
J Philpotts Director, Silbury Coins
The Tarrant Gunville Hoard
Beginning in July 2022, a remarkable cache of Iron Age coins was unearthed by a metal detectorist in the Dorset parish of Tarrant Gunville, a remarkable group of 31 staters dating back over 2,000 years. This intriguing assemblage, featuring predominantly Chute type gold staters alongside Durotrigian silver issues, offers a fascinating glimpse into Britain’s late Iron Age economy and cultural context just before the Roman conquest.
Fully documented under PAS protocols, the hoard has attracted significant local, national, and international press attention, featuring Silbury Coins’ images and research.
We are now delighted to announce that the coins are available to purchase directly from our website today. Explore the full story, detailed analysis and stunning images that bring this fascinating discovery to life.
The Warwick Collection
The Warwick Collection brings together a fine and thoughtfully assembled selection of English medieval silver coins, formed over a lifetime of discerning collecting.
This exciting collection began when the collector was given an Edward VI (the boy king) shilling in 1956, this sparked a lifelong interest in coins by someone who clearly had a good eye for quality. Most coins have been selected for their strong portraits, others for their historic interest. Each coin is accompanied by the collectors own handwritten label and all display pleasing old collection toning. Highlights include a selection of high grade Late Anglo-Saxon pennies, a bold penny of William the Conqueror, attractive Philip & Mary shilling and some lovely Stuart portraits, including a rare plume over shield James I shilling.
View our Premium Listings
The Chilfrome Hoard
The Chilfrome Hoard provides a fascinating snapshot of the very beginnings of Roman Britain.
Discovered near Chilfrome, Dorset, in 2021, this tightly grouped hoard of 97 silver denarii lay undisturbed for almost two millennia. Dating to the late AD 40s, shortly after the Claudian invasion, it was buried at a key moment during the advance of Legio II Augusta through the region. Its location and composition suggest a possible Roman military pay deposit, making it an evocative link to the earliest phase of Roman rule.
The Normanby Cliff Hoard
The Normanby Cliff Hoard, discovered in Lincolnshire in 1985, is one of the largest Roman coin hoards ever found in Britain.
Recovered near Ermine Street, the hoard contained an astonishing 47,920 coins buried in a ceramic vessel just beneath the ploughsoil. Dating mainly to the later third century AD, the coins range from Valerian I to Carausius and are dominated by issues of the Gallic Empire. Though much of the hoard was rapidly dispersed, its scale and composition offer a powerful insight into the economic uncertainty of Roman Britain during this turbulent period.
British Archaeology: “Melsonby Iron Age Hoard: A 2,000-Year-Old Discovery”
A major Iron Age discovery near Melsonby, North Yorkshire, has revealed one of the UK’s most significant prehistoric hoards — more than 800 objects dating back around 2,000 years, including parts of wagons and chariots, elaborate horse harnesses, ceremonial spears and ornate vessels. This incredible assemblage, uncovered by a detectorist and excavated by archaeologists with support from Historic England and the British Museum, is reshaping how experts understand wealth, status, technology and travel in Iron Age Britain. A small selection of the items are now on public display at the Yorkshire Museum, and ongoing efforts aim to conserve and interpret the full hoard for future generations.
Coming Soon: The Cambridge Collection of Ancient Greek coins
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Latest News
A wonderful selection of coins has been uploaded to our website today.
From the Ancient sections there are some lovely denari including a fantastic portrait issue of Julius Caesar, beautiful solidi and Aureii together with a gold stater of Alexander the Great. From the British there are some choice rarities including coins of Richard III, Pontefract castle (English Civil War siege piece) and a run of later gold including a scarce Sceptre piece of Charles I and a rare 1823 sovereign of George IV.
Enjoy browsing!Today’s upload contains some amazing Anglo Saxon and Viking pennies, alongside one of the finest Henry IV groats known.
Hiberno Norse rulers like Sihtric Anlasson, a high grade penny of Anlaf from the Viking Kingdom of York and portrait pieces of the famous unifier of Britian, King Aethelstan (AD 924-939) and perhaps the less helpful Harold II Godwinesson from AD 1066, they’re all here!📣 The Winter Newsletter is OUT now!
Get stuck into our latest issue filled with fascinating numismatic discoveries & expert insights from Silbury Coins! 🪙❄️
Inside this edition:
✨ A look at remarkable finds and collections we’ve been researching and cataloguing.
🪙 Highlights from hoards — including recent Iron Age and Roman silver treasures.
📜 Insightful articles and historical background you won’t want to miss.
Whether you’re an avid collector, history lover, or just curious about rare coins, this issue delivers! 👀
👉 Read the full Newsletter here: https://www.silburycoins.co.uk/hoards-and-research/winter-2025-newsletter/
#SilburyCoins #Numismatics #CoinCollectors #WinterNewsletter #CoinHistory
