A hoard of mediaeval silver coins found by a metal detectorist in Dursley last winter have been declared as treasure by the Gloucestershire Coroner.

The treasure inquest at Gloucester heard last Thursday (Aug 5) that the 14 English silver coins were found on a hillside in Dursley along with half an iron key and fragments of a cast iron container which were discovered close by. A Portuguese coin was also found at the same site.

The assistant treasure registrar at British Museum confirmed to the inquest that the finder had permission to metal detect from the land owner when the hoard was found on November 10, 2020.

The expert's report stated that the hoard qualified as treasure because of the age of the coins and their precious metal content.

The Department of Culture Media and Sport said the 14 hammered coins were issued during the reigns of Kings Edward IV, Henry VII and Henry VIII and that the Portuguese coin also dated from the same mediaeval period.

The coins were photographed and identified by the finder, although minor corrections in the identity of two of them were made by museum experts.

During the process the court heard that the finder, who wishes to remain anonymous, was in regular contact with with the Bristol and Gloucester Museum Finds Liaison Officer.

The court was told that the finder and the land owner have agreed to waive any remuneration for the hoard and donate the coins to either the Museum in the Park in Stroud or Gloucester Museum on the basis that they are not sold and shall remain together.

The oldest coin dates back to King Edward IV with a silver groat minted between 1464 and 1470 which bore the marks that resemble a rose on one side and a crown on the reverse.

A silver half groat minted at Canterbury during Edward IV reign was also discovered in the hoard.

A silver groat bearing Henry VII’s mint mark Tun 1486-1504 was minted jointly by King and Archbishop Morton.

There are three silver half pennies of Henry VIII that are dated between 1526-44 and has a bust facing forwards with single arched crown and on the reverse it has a long cross with three pellets in each angle.

A silver farthing also dating from Henry VIII which was minted by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer between 1533-1556 at Canterbury.

Two silver half groats that were minted during the reign of Henry VIII the first by Archbishop Edward Lee between 1531 and 1544 and its reverse the coin displays a coat-of-arms surmounted by cross fourchée . The second coin was minted by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer at Canterbury between 1533 and 1544.

The Portuguese coin is a silver half real of Alfonso V of Portugal minted between 1438 and 1481.