Ancient Gold and Silver Coin Hoard Sells for Double the Estimate at Noonans Mayfair

A remarkable collection of over 680 ancient gold and silver coins, dating from 206 BC to AD 46/47, was sold on Sept. 18 at Noonans Mayfair for more than double the original estimate—£132,865 (approximately CAD $225,000).

A hoard of 748 ancient gold and silver coins, discovered by a metal detectorist on the grounds of Helmingham Hall near Stowmarket, Suffolk, sold for more than double the original estimate at auction on Sept. 18 at Noonans Mayfair. The hoard, which was initially estimated to fetch £75,000 (CAD $127,000), sold for a total of £132,865 (approximately CAD $225,000).

Discovered by George Ridgway, 34, of Ashbocking, just a few miles from the historic hall, the hoard was found on Sept. 8, 2019. Ridgway, who works for his family’s butcher shop and has been passionate about history since childhood, said he was inspired by Indiana Jones to start “history hunting” at the age of four.

“I dreamed of finding a Roman hoard ever since my grandmother bought me a metal detector for my 12th birthday,” he said. “It was an awe-inspiring moment when I realized I had found one!”

Ridgway, who is also a member of the Suffolk Metal Detecting Club, decided to investigate an unusual crop mark in a recently harvested barley field in Suffolk with his Garrett AT Pro metal detector.

“I knew a Roman road ran close to the field, but after scouring the area, nothing turned up,” he explained. “I moved 30 yards away and recovered two early Roman bronze Colchester-type brooches from the mid-1st century AD. Another signal revealed a silver denarius issued by Julius Caesar in 46 BC.”

Over the next three hours, Ridgway found 160 more Roman silver coins, some attached to pottery fragments, and realized he had made a significant archaeological discovery. He called his father to guard the site overnight until the archaeological team arrived, and it took three months to fully recover the hoard.

The hoard eventually totalled 748 gold and silver coins, ranging in date from 206 B.C. to A.D. 46/47, and included Iron Age coins of Cunobelin and Roman coins of the Republic and early Empire. Among the highlights were an aureus of Claudius and a denarius of Gaius Caesar, better known as Caligula.

The British Museum and Colchester & Ipswich Museum acquired 63 coins from the hoard, including the rare aureus of Claudius, for their collections.

Alice Cullen, a coin specialist at Noonans, said: “This is one of the largest hoards containing both Iron Age and Roman coins found in Britain, with the latest coins of Claudius and those of Cunobelin in near-perfect condition.”

“The location and date range suggest the hoard may have been buried by a long-serving legionary soldier from the XX Legion, stationed near Colchester,” she added. “It’s possible the hoard was hidden by a victim of the A.D. 47 Iceni rebellion after the Romans ordered them to disarm, leading to a battle at Stonea Camp.”

The proceeds from the sale will be split between Ridgway and the landowner. When asked about his plans for the proceeds, Ridgway joked: “First, I’d like to buy my dad a pint!”