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Six finds from the 13th to 17th century have been declared as treasure by a coroner
A gold ring, a hoard of silver coins and a brooch were among the haul of artefacts unearthed across North Wales. Joanne Lees, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central said the items were “an important part of our history” at a series of treasure inquests held in Ruthin today.
Six out of seven finds were deemed to be a treasure – meaning they are more than 10% gold, silver or base metal and over 300 years old.
The precious items were found by enthusiasts with metal detectors across the region and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme Wales (PAS Cymru).
Ms Lees said: “Finds of this nature are important and museums are full of items that have been found in this way.
“They are a really important part of our history and without people going out looking, they wouldn’t be unearthed.”
Denbighshire Museums Service and Flintshire Museums Service have expressed an interest in acquiring the treasure finds, after they have been independently valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee.
Post-Medieval silver coins
A hoard of eight post-Medieval coins was found by Stephen Marnick and Richard Leech who were metal detecting on the Plas Heaton estate near Trefnant, Denbighshire in August 2018.
Eight of the coins were found together and a ninth coin was discovered over 200m away however, the ninth was not deemed to be a treasure.
The eight coins date back to the reigns of Elizabeth I (1558-1603), James I (1603-1625) and Charles I (1625-1649).
They consist of two sixpence coins and six shilling coins, which would have been worth a total of 84 old pence, or about five days’ wages for a skilled craftsman in 1640.
The latest coins in the group were minted in 1645-6, so the hoard must have been lost or deposited in the ground after that date.
Alastair Willis, senior curator of numismatics and the Welsh Economy at the National Museum Wales said; “This group of coins, like many others of the period, was probably buried for safekeeping during the English Civil Wars of 1642–1651.
“What’s particularly interesting is that two of the coins were struck at the Tower of London by Parliament after the start of the War.
“They still bear Charles I’s portrait, however, because Parliament claimed that it was fighting the king’s advisers, not the king himself.”
Medieval silver-gilt ring fragment
A decorative silver-gilt finger ring fragment was found on land in Cilcain, Flintshire by Simon Bennett-Williams who was metal detecting in April 2018.
A section of the hoop was missing, but the surviving part is decorated with leaves and quatrefoils set in square frames.
Dr Mark Redknap, head of collections and research in the department of history and archaeology, at National Museum Wales, who dated the ring to the 14th century, described Mr Bennet-Williams’s find as “a fine example of a late medieval decorative ring.”
Silver Medieval brooch
A silver brooch was found on a field of pasture at Cilcain, Flintshire by metal detector enthusiast of more than 40 years, Andrew Critchley.
The small annular item weighing 0.97g was found around four inches below the ground in January 2017.
Dr Mark Redknap from the National Museum Wales examined its colour, weight and made visual comparisons to similar items that have been unearthed over the years and said it dated back to the 13/14th century.
Mr Critchley said it was his first significant find and hoped to find more treasure in future.
Post-Medieval gold posy ring
A 17th-century gold posy ring was discovered around four inches below the ground on a plough soil field in Llanfair DC, Denbighshire by Jason Kempster in December 2016.
The outer surface of the ring is plain, but the inner surface is inscribed with the words ‘CONTINEW FAITHFVLL’ (‘continue faithful’).
Posy rings were often exchanged as lovers’ gifts, the inscriptions acting as a private message between the couple.
Medieval silver brooch
A silver annular (ring-shaped) brooch was found on grassland used for graving in Llanfynydd, Flintshire.
It was found by Michael Nelson in October 2018 and was six inches deep in the ground.
The brooch weighed 1.49g and dates back to the 13/14th century.
Relatively common treasure finds, these brooches were a widely-used method of fastening clothing in the Middle Ages.
Post-Medieval silver bodkin fragment
A metal detector unearthed a 17th-century silver bodkin or dress pin on a field in Llanbedr DC, Denbighshire.
Allan Hughes made the find in July 2016.
The bodkin was decorated with a terminal in the shape of a fleur-de-lys and would have been used to fasten clothing by drawing laces through eyelets.
Not treasure
A post-Medieval pinhead terminal from a brooch was found by a Mr Rudge at Halkyn, Flintshire in May 2016.
He made the discovery on a grassland field that had not been ploughed for 16 years.
Experts said it was “too small to come from a Viking age thistle brooch” and was more likely to be from the Victorian era in the 19th century.
Therefore it was not deemed as treasure and the item will be returned to the finder.
Source: North-West Live
