500-Year-Old Coin Treasure Unearthed from a Couple’s Backyard

According to Saed News’ social service report, a treasure trove of gold and silver coins was recently put up for sale in Switzerland on November 5. Before the auction, their value was estimated at over $300,000. One remarkable aspect of these coins is that they bear the names of four kings, two queens, and a cardinal.

The treasure was discovered in the village of Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire, southern England. A couple, who wish to remain anonymous, uncovered the hoard in April 2020 while fixing a fence near their garden. Beneath a patch of hard, clay-like soil, they found several small metal pieces. Their teenage son, after cleaning the items, realized they were coins: 63 gold coins and one silver coin.

The family registered the discovery with the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. Later, in 2021, archaeologists unearthed six more coins in the same garden.

The museum’s treasure registrar recalled: “The couple was digging through the soil when these coins seemed to appear like a miracle. It was a shocking discovery for them and an incredibly fascinating one for us.”

The hoard includes coins from the reigns of Henry VI, Edward IV, Henry VII, and Henry VIII. According to the auction catalog, the collection is “the only complete and documented hoard of early Tudor gold coins ever offered at auction.”

Experts are particularly intrigued by coins referencing Henry VIII’s wives. Some bear the initials of Catherine of Aragon, his first wife, while others show the initials of Jane Seymour, his third wife.

Scholars believe the coins were likely buried in the late 1530s. At that time, the treasure was worth about £26—a substantial sum, roughly equivalent to the average price of a house in rural England.

Why would someone hide such wealth in the 16th century? The prevailing theory is political instability. During the Reformation, Henry VIII broke from the Pope and declared himself head of the Church of England, dissolving hundreds of monasteries and seizing the wealth of the Catholic Church.

An Oxford numismatics expert explained: “We know some churches tried to hide their wealth in the hope of reclaiming it later.” He suggests the coins may have been buried by a wealthy merchant or a clergyman during the dissolution of the monasteries.

Another expert noted: “We will likely never know who buried this treasure or why, but it almost certainly occurred during the earliest and most turbulent years of England’s Reformation.”

The auction house confirmed that all proceeds from the sale will go directly to the family. After assessment and valuation, the British Museum returned the coins to their rightful owners.

“All of us dream of discovering something valuable in our backyard,” the auction expert said, “but this family was incredibly lucky that their dream became a reality.”