Trove of Buried 11th Century Coins Could Fetch a Pretty Penny

A cache of buried treasure—more than 120 Anglo-Saxon coins from the 11th century—unearthed by two metal detectorists in England could be worth more than $225,000 when it heads to auction today.

Discovered in a field in Braintree, Essex, about 50 miles northeast of London, the coins are believed to have been buried around1066 and owned by a person who died during the Battle of Hastings, according to Noonans Mayfair, the auction house handling the sale.

The metal detectorists found most of the coins in 2019 over the course of a few days, all within a 100-foot radius. Some of the coins, which were minted in various southern English towns and cities, including London, Cambridge, Canterbury, and Hastings, were just inches beneath the surface.

The coins were minted within five years of 1066 and each worth 12 shillings, a handsome sum in the 11th century. Noonan’s coin expert, Bradley Hopper, said it was common for people without access to banks or secured storage to bury their wealth. He speculated the coins were abandoned due to “some great personal misfortune,” such as death in conflict.

The Battle of Hastings, Oct. 14, 1066, is probably the most famous battle in England’s history. The battle ended with the defeat of Harold II of England by William, duke of Normandy, and established the Normans as rulers of England.

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