The Peatling Magna Hoard

This hoard of ten gold Iron Age coins was found in 2010 by Steve Bestwick whilst metal detecting on fields near Peatling Magna, in the District of Harborough.  They will be displayed permanently at Harborough Museum from Tuesday 17 July 2012.

The coins were probably produced between 60-50 BC in Gallia Belgica, the Latin name for modern north western France and the Low Countries.  They show a stylised horse moving right, surrounded by symbols on one side and are blank on the other.  

These coins are slightly earlier than the majority of the coins in the Hallaton Treasure which is also displayed at Harborough Museum. It is rare to find hoards of early imported coins so far north, others are confined to East Anglia and the South East.

Most Gallo-Belgic coins are found in hoards and usually in mint condition.  We think they may have been considered special because they were imported or perhaps they were hoarded because they were better quality gold than local coins.  

The Hoard qualifies as Treasure, as it is over 300 years old and consists of more than two precious metal coins.

Further info and images of the coins can be found on the Portable Antiquities Scheme Database www.finds.org.uk/database.  The Hoard’s Reference Number is LEIC-114E78  

Leicestershire County Council acquired the Hoard with generous assistance from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, the Market Harborough Historical Society, the Friends of Leicester and Leicestershire Museums and Leicestershire Fieldworkers.