英格蘭多塞特郡 17 世紀錢幣寶藏發掘出土歷史寶藏

在英國多塞特郡的廚房翻修過程中，貝蒂和羅伯特福克斯在混凝土地板下發現了 1,000 枚 17 世紀的硬幣。這些硬幣被稱為普頓寶庫，由詹姆斯一世、查理一世、伊麗莎白一世、菲利普和瑪麗統治時期的金、銀和六便士組成。這項發現預計在即將舉行的拍賣會上拍出約 35,000 英鎊的價格。

Discovery of 17th-Century Coin Hoard Uncovers Historical Treasure

17 世紀錢幣寶藏的發現揭示了歷史寶藏

Dorset, England – April 12, 2023

英國多塞特郡 – 2023 年 4 月 12 日

A remarkable discovery in the heart of the English countryside has unearthed a treasure trove from the annals of history. Betty and Robert Fooks, residents of a 17th-century farmhouse in Dorset, stumbled upon a hidden cache of over 1,000 coins dating back to the early 17th century.

英國鄉村中心的一項非凡發現挖掘出了歷史編年史中的寶庫。貝蒂·福克斯(Betty Fooks) 和羅伯特·福克斯(Robert Fooks) 是多塞特郡一座17 世紀農舍的居民，他們偶然發現了一個隱藏的藏品，裡面藏有1,000 多枚可追溯到17 世紀初的硬幣。

The fortuitous find occurred during a renovation project undertaken by the couple to enhance the ceiling height of their ancient abode. As Robert, an agricultural engineer, meticulously removed the concrete floor of the kitchen, he encountered an unexpected sight—a smashed glazed pottery bowl filled with glimmering coins.

這一偶然的發現是在這對夫婦進行的一項翻修工程中發現的，該工程旨在提高他們古老住所的天花板高度。當農業工程師羅伯特小心翼翼地拆除廚房的水泥地板時，他遇到了意想不到的景象——一個打碎的釉面陶碗，裡面裝滿了閃閃發光的硬幣。

Intrigued by their discovery, the Fookses promptly reported their find to the local finds liaison officer, who subsequently arranged for the coins to be transported to the British Museum for expert analysis and identification. The coins, now known as the Poorton hoard, have been meticulously cleaned and examined by museum curators, revealing their historical significance.

福克斯夫婦對他們的發現很感興趣，並立即向當地發現聯絡官報告了他們的發現，後者隨後安排將這些硬幣運送到大英博物館進行專家分析和鑑定。這些硬幣現在被稱為普頓寶藏，經過博物館館長的精心清理和檢查，揭示了它們的歷史意義。

The hoard comprises a diverse assemblage of gold coins minted during the reigns of James I and Charles I, silver half crowns, shillings, and sixpences, as well as silver shillings and sixpences from the reign of Elizabeth I and Philip and Mary.

這些寶藏包括詹姆斯一世和查理一世統治時期鑄造的各種金幣、半克朗、先令和六便士銀幣，以及伊麗莎白一世、菲利普和瑪麗統治時期鑄造的銀先令和六便士。

"It's a 400-year-old house, so there was a lot of work to do," recounted Betty Fooks, an NHS health visitor. "We removed all the floors and ceilings, taking it back to its stone walls. We decided to lower the ground floor to give us more ceiling height."

「這是一棟有 400 年歷史的房子，所以有很多工作要做，」NHS 健康訪客貝蒂·福克斯 (Betty Fooks) 回憶道。 “我們拆除了所有地板和天花板，並將其帶回石牆。我們決定降低底層，以增加天花板高度。”

"One evening, I was with the children when my husband called to say they'd found something," she recalled. "He put all the coins in a bucket. If we hadn't lowered the floor, they would still be hidden there. I presume the person intended to retrieve them but never got the chance."

「有一天晚上，我和孩子們在一起，我丈夫打電話說他們發現了一些東西，」她回憶道。 「他把所有的硬幣都放在一個桶子裡。如果我們沒有降低地板，它們仍然會藏在那裡。我猜那個人打算取回它們，但一直沒有機會。”

According to Julian Smith, a specialist at Duke's auctioneers in Dorchester, the coins are believed to have been deposited on a single occasion, possibly by a wealthy individual who intended to retrieve them later.

多切斯特杜克大學拍賣行的專家朱利安史密斯表示，這些硬幣據信是一次性存放的，可能是由打算稍後取回的富人存放的。

"The cottage is situated in a small hamlet in west Dorset and is a 17th-century long-house," Smith explained. "The modern concrete floor was removed, and the floor was dug down by nearly 2 feet to provide greater height to the downstairs of the property."

「這座小屋位於多塞特郡西部的一個小村莊，是一座 17 世紀的長屋，」史密斯解釋道。 “現代混凝土地板被拆除，地板被挖了近2英尺，為樓下提供了更大的高度。”

"In some areas, there were old flagstones under the concrete, but the area where the coins were found was bare earth," he added. "The coins were brought to the British Museum for identification and cleaning, and their experts believe they were all buried at the same time."

「在某些地區，混凝土下有舊石板，但發現硬幣的區域卻是裸露的土地，」他補充道。 “這些硬幣被帶到大英博物館進行鑑定和清理，專家認為它們都是同時埋葬的。”

The Poorton hoard will be offered for sale at Duke's auctioneers on April 23, 2023, and is expected to fetch an estimated £35,000. Proceeds from the sale will be used to fund the ongoing renovation of the Fookses' historic home, ensuring that its legacy continues to be cherished by generations to come.

普頓寶藏將於 2023 年 4 月 23 日在杜克大學拍賣行拍賣，預計售價為 35,000 英鎊。出售所得將用於資助福克斯家族歷史住宅的持續翻修，確保其遺產繼續為子孫後代所珍視。

This momentous discovery offers a poignant glimpse into the lives of our ancestors, revealing their hopes, fears, and aspirations. The Poorton hoard serves as a tangible reminder of the rich tapestry of history that unfolds beneath our very feet, waiting to be unearthed and appreciated.

這一重大發現讓我們對祖先的生活有了深刻的了解，揭示了他們的希望、恐懼和願望。普頓寶藏切實地提醒我們，豐富的歷史就在我們腳下展開，等待著被挖掘和欣賞。