Near the anticipated location of a new nuclear power station on the Suffolk coastline, archaeologists affiliated with Oxford Cotswold Archaeology (OCA) have unearthed a remarkable assemblage of 321 silver coins, all in pristine condition. This repository comprises 319 complete pennies and two clipped halfpence, originating from the 11th century CE. The significance of this find lies in its capacity to illuminate the social and political turbulence of the period. It further substantiates the notion that dynastic shifts, particularly following the enthronement of Edward the Confessor in 1042, instilled considerable apprehension among the populace. It is plausible that this collection represented the accumulated savings of a local individual, who, anticipating the ramifications of the change in leadership, chose to safeguard their assets through interment.
The 1,000-year-old silver coin hoard. Image credit: Oxford Cotswold Archaeology.
The recently exhumed coin cache had been meticulously encased in both fabric and lead.
The currency within this collection was minted during the tenures of monarchs including Harold I ‘Harefoot’ (reigned 1036-40), Harthacnut (reigned 1040-42), and Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042-66).
While the preponderance of these coins bear the mark of Harold I’s reign, a notably smaller quantity were issued under Harthacnut, with merely 24 attributed to Edward the Confessor.
Although a substantial proportion of the coinage originated from the London mint, numerous pieces were also struck at different regional mints, such as Thetford, Norwich, Ipswich, Lincoln, and Stamford.
The presence of coins from less prominent mints, like Langport and Axbridge in the southwest of England, renders them particularly scarce and valuable.
“This numismatic hoard confers invaluable insights into the rich historical milieu of this era, bolstering the existing evidence that the accession of Edward the Confessor to the English throne was accompanied by a palpable sense of unease and apprehension throughout broader society,” remarked Alexander Bliss, a numismatic specialist at OCA.
“The examination of this novel coin assemblage has been a profoundly cooperative undertaking, benefiting from the significant contributions of numerous experts and project collaborators across the domains of numismatics, artifact analysis, and conservation.”
“To have played a modest role in unveiling its narrative has been both an honour and a profound privilege.”
While the value represented by this hoard would have constituted a considerable sum for the majority of individuals at that time, it is likely that the owner belonged to the middle strata of society, rather than being a person of exceptionally high standing or national prominence.
This assemblage was likely the carefully accumulated savings of an individual possessing local influence, and its contemporary value would have been comparable to that of a small bovine herd.
“The ‘Pasty’, as it was promptly and affectionately christened due to its distinctive form, was an unparalleled discovery,” stated Andrew Pegg, an archaeologist with OCA.
“My hands were trembling when I first unearthed it, catching sight of a single coin’s edge protruding!”
“It is, in essence, a perfect archaeological time capsule,” he further elaborated.
“The historical revelations we are gleaning from it are astonishing, and I am immensely proud to have contributed to the history of my own local area within Suffolk.”
The mid-11th century in England was characterized by a period of considerable flux, marked by insecurity and shifting loyalties.
Following a dominion of over a quarter-century by the Danish King Cnut and subsequently his sons, Harold and Harthacnut, the coronation of Edward the Confessor in 1042 signified the restoration of the House of Wessex to the English throne.
Such a transition in governance could very well have engendered a degree of uncertainty and concern among the general populace.
Specifically, certain affluent individuals with ties to the preceding administration faced exile or had their possessions confiscated in the wake of Edward’s enthronement.
It is conceivable that the proprietor of this coin hoard harbored fears regarding the potential repercussions of the governmental transition and consequently opted to conceal their wealth as a precautionary measure, with the intention of reclaiming it at a later juncture.
“The precise motivations behind the non-retrieval of this modest treasury may remain perpetually elusive,” the archaeologists commented.
“The unearthing of this 11th-century coin hoard represents an extraordinary archaeological find,” declared Damian Leydon, the site delivery director at Sizewell C.
