NHER 30062 (Find Spot record) - The 'West Norfolk' Early Saxon coin hoard

September 1990. Metal detecting find. [1].
1 Early Saxon gold tremissis, minted in Maestricht. Weight. 1.323 gm.
Identified by [1] 1991.
This coin is part of a large hoard, the bulk of which was found in 2014 (see below).
W. Milligan (NCM) 11 September 1990. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 October 2023.

May 2013. Metal-detecting. Site extended 300m to the north-west. [2].
1 Early/Middle Saxon gold tremissis.
Information from PAS import.
This coin is part of a large hoard, the bulk of which was found in 2014 (see below).
A. Beckham (HES), 3 September 2014. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 October 2023.

2014-2020. Metal-detecting. [3].
Early Saxon hoard comprising 130 gold coins and 4 gold objects (a rectangular hammered ingot, a gold sheet and filigree fragment, a bracteate and a foil disc). Ten of the coins are Byzantine in origin (nine solidi and one tremissis) with the remainder all tremisses of Merovingian origin (with many new types and moneyers represented). Two of the coins appear to have been struck from the same die as examples from the Sutton Hoo purse hoard, which has been dated to c. AD 625 (although the precision of this date is now questioned). Datable coins include those of the Frankish kings Theudebertus II (595-612) and Theudericus II (595-613), which provide a terminus post quem of AD 595 for the hoard. The majority of the coins are though of the 'national' or 'mint and moneyer' series which do not carry the names of datable rulers. The gold content of the coins ranges from c.71% to c.100%, with just under 40% at 91% or above and around half clustered in the range 81-90%. This is broadly similar to the Sutton Hoo hoard, although the Norfolk hoard exhibits a slightly lower level of debasement and is thus potentially a little earlier. Both were probably deposited between AD 613 and AD 640, making them broadly contemporary with the Prittlewell burial (although this is likely to predate both). The other objects do not affect the date of the hoard established by the coins, with the ingot and the foil disc dated only by their apparent inclusion within the hoard.
For further details see published article (S1). See also finder's distribution plot (S2).
Site extended based on (S2). Previous extent recorded as Context 1.
This hoard was submitted for consideration as Treasure, along with the coin found in May 2013 (Ref: 2015 T231). This was an unusual case as although the majority of the items were found (and correctly reported) by a single detectorist, 10 coins were found by a second detectorist who had permission to detect the land but attempted to sell his coins without reporting them (pretending that they were single finds from a number of different sites). This deception was though uncovered and the individual was subsequently imprisoned for theft and dismissed from their job with the police. Information from British Museum press release (S3). See also press article (S4).
A. Beckham (HES), 14 November 2018 and 10 December 2021. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 October 2023.