Saed News: Archaeologists have discovered two additional gold coins at the site of one of Britain’s largest Iron Age gold coin hoards. The coins, around 2,000 years old and known as “gold staters,” were uncovered during recent excavations last autumn on farmland in the Great Baddow area of Essex, England.
According to SAEDNEWS, museum curator Claire Wilts said the purpose of burying the hoard remains unknown, but the coins may have been offered as sacrifices to the gods or as tribute to Julius Caesar.
To solve the mystery, experts commissioned a new excavation through Archaeology South-East to look for clues about how the hoard was originally buried.
A two-person team dug a 2-by-2-metre trench to search for further evidence. During the excavation, senior archaeologist Rob Callum uncovered two additional coins from the mud.
Analysis showed that the coins belong to the same “Waden Chase” type as those previously found. They feature engravings of a horse and a wreath.
Despite the significance of the discovery, the new excavation did not provide any further information about why the hoard was buried or the circumstances surrounding it. Wilts said that while the discovery of additional coins is exciting, the Great Baddow hoard still has not revealed all its secrets.
She added that since no new evidence was found, the question of why such a large number of late Iron Age coins were buried and never recovered remains an enduring mystery.
The coins were officially classified as treasure under legal authorities and were later purchased by the Chelmsford Museum in April.
The hoard had remained underground for over 2,000 years until it was discovered by an amateur detectorist named Sean Wood. However, he did not have permission to search the private land and also failed to report the discovery under the law.
In April 2021, Wood admitted in Chelmsford Crown Court to stealing 22 gold staters and one quarter stater, as well as violating the Treasure Act 1996. He was fined, and his metal detector was confiscated.
