Amateur metal detectorists Keith Young and Lisa Stephenson made a remarkable discovery near the village of Cappercleuch in the Scottish Borders region. They unearthed a hoard of 35 gold and silver coins, minted throughout the 15th century, from both Scotland and England. The coins were initially left at the site in the early- to mid-1460s, and the find has been lauded as the "find of a lifetime" by experts and enthusiasts alike.
Upon discovering the treasure, Young and Stephenson promptly notified the Scottish Treasure Trove Unit. This led to an initial investigation followed by an excavation conducted by archaeologists from the unit and National Museums Scotland. Their efforts uncovered five additional coins, adding to the historical significance of the find. The collection is composed of Scottish gold demy and half-demys, valued at nine shillings and 4.5 shillings respectively, as well as English silver groats.
The coins feature notable figures from history, including those minted by James I and James II of Scotland, and Henry V and Edward IV of England. Such a diverse combination of English and Scottish coins is not uncommon; however, hoards from this particular period are rare in Scotland.
"Coin hoards containing a mix of both English and Scottish coins are not unusual, but we do not see many hoards from this period in Scotland, so it's a fascinating find," Antony Lee commented.
The Treasure Trove Unit is set to analyze the coins before passing them along to the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP). This process will ensure that the coins are properly preserved and eventually made available for museums to display, allowing the public to appreciate this extraordinary piece of history.
