Celtic gold coins uncovered in county

Celtic coins have been discovered in a Leicestershire village, offering a rare glimpse into ancient life.

The 10 gold 2000-year-old coins were found in Peatling Magna by metal detectorist Steve Bestwick and have now been unveiled by Leicestershire County Council.

They depict horses surrounded by mysterious symbols and were made in modern day northern France or the Low Countries between 60-50 BC, showing that cross-channel trade is nothing new.

The coins suggest that the Iron Age inhabitants of Leicestershire, referred to as the Corieltavi, had contact with their continental counterparts. Most ordinary people would have been farmers at that time, living in small communities of thatched roofed roundhouses. Only a small number of elite members of the tribe would have had access to precious objects such as these coins, perhaps reserving them for special ceremonies or transactions.

The coins were found at Peatling Magna in Harborough district – an area already famous for the Hallaton Treasure, a find of over 5000 Iron Age and Roman coins and a Roman helmet.

Mr Bestwick said: “When you find the first one you don’t quite believe its gold. When you find a few you realise there could be lots, then you focus, listen carefully to your machine; as this could be the dream find – an ancient hoard.

“These coins bring up so many questions. Why did they come to Leicestershire? What sort of journey they have been on? How did they get here from the continent, so long ago before cross –channel ferries? Who was the last person to hold them and what did they mean to them?”

Wendy Scott, Finds Liaison Officer at the county council, said: “The coins are significant, as you don’t normally find imported coins this far north.

“Along with the Hallaton Treasure they hint at the importance of Leicestershire in the Iron Age .”

The coins will now go on permanent display at Harborough Museum from 11am on Tuesday 17 July. They will sit alongside the famous Hallaton Treasure, in the Heritage Lottery Funded Hallaton Treasure Gallery. The day will be celebrated with a special free Celtic Coin Day event at which visitors can make their own Iron Age coins to take home.

Mr Bestwick and the landowner have been compensated for the find, through the Treasure Process.

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

The coins are being unveiled to the press at the start of Leicestershire’s two week archaeology festival, which starts on July 14 and offers 73 events across the county.

For further details, see www.leics.gov.uk/archaeologyfestival

Media note: You are invited to interview Steve Bestwick and see the coins at Harborough Museum, from 11am-11.30am on Friday, July 13th. To confirm your attendance, please contact the press office on 0116 305 7046.

Harborough Museum is operated in partnership by Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council and the Market Harborough Historical Society.

The Southeast Leicestershire Treasure (Hallaton Treasure) is the archive of material produced by several stages of archaeological work undertaken by local community archaeologists and University of Leicester Archaeological Services. The site proved to be an internationally important ritual site dating mostly to the generations before and after the Roman Conquest of Britain in the 1st century AD.

The purpose of the project is purchase, conserve, interpret and promote the Southeast Leicestershire Treasure. The cost of the project is £933,872 which includes purchasing the finds, conserving the finds, displays at Harborough Museum and at Hallaton Museum, two touring exhibitions, web based resources, workshops for schools and community groups, and events for the public.