Iron Age Coins Found in Suffolk

A cache of "staters" was found in Suffolk by a man using a metal detector. The case is similar to one from a few years ago, when another amateur sleuth uncovered a cadre of Roman coins with his metal detector. The find in the latter case turned out to be the largest of its kind in Britain; this most recent discovery is said to be the largest of its kind since 1849.

The coins are thought to have been minted by predecessors of the Iceni Queen Boudicca and date back to between 40BC to AD15. Queen Boudicca led indigenous tribes in revolt against Roman troops after her husband's will was ignored and her daughters raped by Legionnaires. Though the revolt was eventually quelled, at the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, Boudicca's bravery cemented her place in British history, and she remains an important figure to this day. Ironically, yet another amateur metal detector enthusiast came upon a neckband originating from the Iceni tribe this past November. This discovery was reported in October, 2008.

During the time o f their circulation, the coins would have been worth somewhere between $1-2 million, but at least one expert suggests they are worth far less now, "We don't know how much they will be worth but it will be less than they were at the time." The coins will be offered to museums at their current value.

While the location of the find is being withheld, spokespeople noted a "thorough" search of the area had turned up nothing else of value.

© C Harris Lynn, 2008