ShaggyBFC

Hello all, I'm not a coin collector, but I am looking for some information on (British) coinage. My father once told me a story of when he and my mother were first married and living in a farms tied cottage. He told me that there was a elderly couple living next door, who had recently passed away. Their family came to the cottage, cleared out what they wanted and left the rest telling my parents that they were welcome to take anything left as long as they tidied the house ready for the next tenant. My parents being newly weds, took everything even if they needed it or not. Whilst they were cleaning, my father noticed that a small alcove had been simply wall-papered over. When he broke through the paper, he found approximately 8 -10 large glass sweet jars filled with old coins. As these were not legal tender, he didn't see any value and simply buried them in the garden along with other items deemed worthless. This would have been circa 1958-60. I believe they are still buried in the garden today. Alas, they didn't stay in this cottage, so it's not as simple as digging them up to see. So the question is, what do you think these coins are considering the large quantity of them and not being legal tender, therefore having no value? I'm putting 2 and 2 together, thinking that they could be Roman - with them being farmers and the cottage being close to a roman road - what do you think? Thanks for any information.

Hi all, I found this 1860 half penny detecting. It's not in the best condition. What would you suggest - leave it as is or try to clean it up a little? It's just had a run under water at the moment. If I was to clean it, what would you suggest? Thanks Andi

Another quick update: been to the house and checked out the lawn. I identified the 'hollow' where I expected the coins / seals to be, then scanned the area with my metal detector. The wold lawn returned some cracking signals, so where to start.... The owner allowed me to dig a few test pits... but unfortunately, these did not bring up any coins... just other junk my father must have buried over the years... brass bed knob, lump of lead, large copper pipe and a large mangled aluminium plate.... so no luck this time. Good news is, the couple are now hooked on the story as week and are keen to explore further - maybe a further survey, and maybe with Geophys... watch this space Andi

Well, over 2 weeks since I posted my letter to the house owner,,,, and today I get a call back. I guess curiosity finally got the best of him. After a brief conversation on the phone, he's agreed for me to go and discuss it further with him.... and he's agreed to share any find. Unfortunately I'm metal detecting on Cleethorpes beach this weekend, so I'll have to wait until next week.... I'm so excited about this. I'll keep everyone posted and will put photos up when the dig starts 😊

Hi All, Happy New Year. A quick update on this topic. I have today written a letter to the house owner, trying not to sound like a lunatic and to explain the story - giving just enough detail, (not to give away what and where), to hopefully generate enough interest for them to contact me. I'll wait to see if they do. If they do, I'll send photos of what is in the ground.

Unfortunately, from my own experience, trading standards and action fraud, look at whether you have suffered a detriment as the result of the act. so you'd have to have purchased something from these dealers, and then prove you have suffered a financial loss. Now looking at these ebay sales, if they state that they don't know what it is, and you buy what you see etc, then that's exactly what you've bought, an unknown item at a cost you agreed to pay. If they describe the item as genuine, and you buy it believing it is as so, then you have a case, if it's not worth what you bought it for. It is still difficult to prove fraud on it, and you'll be pointed to the dispute process where you can get your money back (if you can prove it). As posters on here have highlighted, these people are smart and don't make any claims to authenticity - it's morally wrong... buyer beware

Absolutely, something I did in my 80's apprentice days. We tested every coin just to show the difference in testers and results.

thanks for the replies - disappointing, I'll have to cancel my order for a new Lamborghini now I however do have the 'bug', I've just purchased myself a metal detector and secured permission to detect on farm land close by. I look forward to posting some of my finds on this forum.

just a little bit more information. Have a look at this: "Commodus Billon Tetradrachm of Alexandria. Year 30=189/190 AD. M A KOM ANTW CEBEV CEB, laureate head right / LΛ in right field, eagle with open wings standing right on thunderbolt. Dattari 3905" Alexandria Milne 2696 http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/commodus/i.html Also, after a quick search, I can't find one for sale, so saying that, it should hold some value.

Hi, I know nothing about this topic, but I googled and have found a reference to a Commodus 189AD Egyptian Roman coin that looks similar to the coin you have. https://www.ebay.com/itm/COMMODUS-189AD-Alexandria-Egypt-Authentic-Ancient-Roman-Coin-EAGLE-NGC-i62694/232412699723?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D46089%26meid%3D077d6cbef4284c21abfe7856edb356b7%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D7%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D321909370757&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

Thanks, I'm assuming they were never declared / claimed, I'd have not idea - All I have as a lead is the property address - I don't know the name of the original tenant / finder. I'm going to have a look around the local museum and have a chat with someone there. I'll keep you informed on any progress I make.

Hi chaps, I suppose a question for the metal detectorists. A 'very' hypothetical question. If these coins were found to be Roman or the likes, would they be classed as treasure trove - considering they were first dug up 60ish years ago, and relocated? This has really captured my imagination. After a bit of investigation, the burial site is within a half a mile radius of; a Roman fort, an Iron-age fort, a Roman settlement and a major Roman road (the Fosse-way) [saying this, I expect almost everywhere in Britain could have the same claim] Thanks

I have considered just knocking on the door, but I fear 1) they'd think I was some sort of weirdo 2) they would just say thanks and did them up for themselves.

it is indeed. I'm just risk assessing if it's worth digging up someones garden in the middle of the night and getting arrested For lead, it's certainly not worth it, they can stay in the ground until the owners want to build an extension.

Great, thanks for the information, this is fascinating. Roman coins - yes, I'm probably dreaming. I'm trying to understand why someone would have so many coins in one place. Surely if they had be a coin enthusiast, then they would have been stored better and if they were once legal tender to 1860, then why would someone not spend them / cash them in, before this couple happened upon them? Also, I'm assuming that if they were copper coins, then this sort of quantity would have been worth a fair amount? Is there any value in farm tokens?

Thanks., The thought of staking out the place, going there at 02.00 and covertly digging them up had crossed my mind Without doing my father an injustice, he was a simple man and wouldn't know his derriere for his elbow.