Press Releases

The nine finds are:

• Treasure case 19.05, a late medieval silver-gilt finger ring found in Tregynon Community, Powys.
• Treasure case 19.06, a medieval silver bar-mount found in Llancarfan Community, Vale of Glamorgan.
• Treasure case 19.08, a post-medieval gold posy ring found in Talgarth Community, Powys.
• Treasure case 19.11, a post-medieval gold finger ring found in Carreghofa Community, Powys.
• Treasure case 19.21, a medieval silver annular brooch found in Montgomery Community, Powys.
• Treasure case 19.22, a Tudor silver coin hoard found in Churchstoke Community, Powys.
• Treasure case 19.23, an early medieval silver double-hooked fastener found in Churchstoke Community, Powys
• Treasure case 19.25, a 17^th century gold coin hoard found in Trefeglwys Community, Powys.
• Treasure case 19.44, a medieval gold coin hoard found in Llanwrtyd Wells Community, Powys.

Three medieval gold coins (Treasure 19.44) were found by Chris Perkins and Shawn Hendry while metal detecting in Llanwrtyd Community, Powys in April 2019. The coins are “nobles” from the reigns of Edward III and Richard II (1327-1399), with a total value of 20 shillings, about 50 days’ wages for a skilled tradesman. They were probably buried for safekeeping around the end of the 14^th century but were never recovered by their owner.

The newly opened Y Gaer Museum, Art Gallery & Library, in Brecon, hopes to acquire this exciting hoard for its new galleries. Senior Curator Nigel Blackamore commented:

“Very few gold coins have been discovered within south Powys, so we would welcome the possibility of adding these to Museums new medieval displays.” 

A group of five silver coins (Treasure 19.22), comprising 4 groats and a Burgundian “double patard”, was discovered by Aled Roberts and Graham Wood in May 2019, while metal detecting in Churchstoke Community, Powys. This small hoard was buried in about 1530 during the reign of Henry VIII, whose portrait features on three of the coins.

Y Lanfa Powysland Museum and Welshpool Library hopes to acquire this coin hoard to contribute to the museum’s collection, which does not yet include examples of locally found 16^th century coins. Centre Manager, Saffron Price commented:

“It would be wonderful to have these coins within the museum’s collection an to put them on display for the public to enjoy”.

The early medieval decorated silver double hooked fastener (Treasure case 19.23) was found by Stuart Fletcher in Churchstoke Community, Powys. The stylisation of the debased zoomorphic motifs show that this is Anglo-Saxon work belonging to the ninth century, and it was probably used to fasten an upper garment, as functional costume jewellery.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales hopes to acquire this artefact for the national collection. Dr Mark Redknap, Deputy Head of Collections and Research at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, commented:

“This unusual object is the first ‘Anglo-Saxon style’ double-hooked fastener to be identified in Wales. Reflecting the status of the original owner, it provides new evidence for the exposure of Anglo-Saxon styles within the early Welsh kingdoms, and of the melting-pot of styles and influences from which Welsh identity was to emerge.”

The gold finger ring from Carreghofa Community, Powys (Treasure case 19.11) was found by David Balfour. It is a memento mori ring with a flat bezel engraved with a death’s head (a skull), inlaid with traces of white enamel, surrounded by the inscription: + Memento Mori, in small neat italic script. The inscription, the ring form, style of the engraved skull and neat italic lettering indicate that this ring dates between 1550 and 1650.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales hopes to acquire this artefact for the national collection. Dr Mark Redknap, Deputy Head of Collections and Research at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, commented:

“This is a rare example of a Tudor or early Stuart memento mori ring with a clear Welsh provenance. Its sentiment reflects the high mortality of the period, the motif and inscription acknowledging the brevity and vanities of life. This discovery increases our knowledge of attitudes to death in early modern Wales.”

ENDS

For further information or images, please contact Lleucu Cooke, Communications Manager Lleucu.cooke@museumwales.ac.uk 

EDITOR’S NOTES

1. All images to be credited © Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

2. The Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales (PAS Cymru) is a mechanism to record and publish archaeological finds made by members of the public. It has proved a highly effective means of capturing vital archaeological information, while engaging with non-traditional museum audiences and communities.

3. Each year, between 20 and 45 treasure cases are reported in Wales, as finds made by members of the public, usually metal detectorists. Since 1997, over 550 treasure finds have been made in Wales, with numbers of treasure finds gradually increasing over time, with 45 treasure cases reported in 2019. These finds are adding important new knowledge and understanding of our pasts, a cultural resource of growing importance for Wales.

4. Treasure items must be legally reported and handed over to PAS Cymru staff and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, as the lead heritage organisation managing treasure work in Wales. National museum curators gather accurate information and report on treasure finds, making recommendations to coroners, the officers who make independent legal judgements on treasure and ownership.