New Fakenham coin find is declared treasure and is linked to Boudica's revolt

The precious find was made in Fakenham by metal detectorist Barry Mears in September 2022, with an inquest held this week to determine whether it was treasure.

A metal detectorist has uncovered a hoard of Iron Age coins in Norfolk, with one being declared treasure by an inquest. Barry Mears made the precious find in Fakenham in September 2022.

Of the 23 coins in the horde, just one was subject to the inquest process. A report from Norfolk County Council's numismatist, Adrian Marsden, was read during the hearing, which lasted just a few minutes.

According to Mr Marsden, the coin weighed less than a gram (0.77g) and could be dated back to pre-Biblical times. It was minted from Icenian silver and bore a picture of a horse.

The coin was dated between 30 and 10BC, but Mr Marsden said it was likely to have been hidden around the time of Boudica's revolt, which took place between 60 and 61AD.

"Hordes like this are relatively commonplace and reflective of the feeling of unease due to Boudica's revolt," he said.

Yvonne Blake, area coroner for Norfolk, concluded that the coin was indeed treasure due to it being more than 300 years old and made of silver.

The find is the latest in a long list of discoveries made in Norfolk, with statistics showing that more treasure is found in the county than anywhere else in England and Wales.

Boudica was the warrior Queen of the Iceni - a Celtic tribute of the late Iron Age that lived in East Anglia. In AD60-61 she led a revolt against the ruling Romans, which saw her become one of the most celebrated figures in Norfolk history.

The Iceni tribe is known for having produced some of the earliest examples of British coins. Her story has been recreated in literature and film a number of times, as well as in exhibitions at Norwich's Castle Museum.