Camilla Jessen
What began as a backyard fence repair during the pandemic led to the discovery of a royal treasure.
n April 2020, an English couple from Milford on Sea were repairing a garden fence when they stumbled upon what turned out to be a rare and valuable treasure.
While digging near a flower bed, the man found a lump of clay.
When their teenage son rinsed it off, small metal discs began to appear. They had found gold coins dating back to the time of Henry VIII.
Experts at the British Museum quickly confirmed the significance of the find.
The coins span the reigns of four English kings: Henry VI, Edward IV, Henry VII and Henry VIII.
Two of the coins also bear the initials of Henry VIII’s wives, Catherine of Aragon and Jane Seymour, suggesting a direct connection to the Tudor court.
A second dig in 2021 uncovered more coins, bringing the total to 64. The hoard includes 63 gold coins and one silver coin.
From Reformation to Auction Block
Experts believe the coins were hidden during the 1530s, a period of religious and political upheaval when Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church.
Numismatist David Guest told the BBC that the hoard was worth about £26 at the time, enough to purchase a countryside home, indicating it belonged to someone very wealthy.
The coins will go to auction on November 5 in Switzerland at Numismatica Ars Classica. They are expected to sell for more than £230,000.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation
