"Chief among the finds from 2024 is a hoard of 179 silver pennies dating to 1066. The coins were likely buried for safekeeping during the final weeks of Anglo-Saxon England, at a moment when the fate of the kingdom hung in the balance. Strikingly, the hoard contains only coins from the short reign of King Harold II, suggesting it was concealed very late in his rule."
"It may have been buried as England braced for invasion - either during the Norwegian attack led by King Harald Hardrada in September 1066, or in the tense period that followed, just weeks before Harold faced William of Normandy at Hastings. The hoard crystallises one of history's great "what if" moments. Had Harold's army not been depleted by the northern campaign, might the outcome at Hastings have been different - and with it the course of English history?"
The Portable Antiquities Scheme, managed by the British Museum, recorded another record year of reported archaeological finds and objects declared treasure in 2024. The Treasure Act requires significant discoveries to be reported, enabling public acquisition and fair rewards for finders, many of whom are metal detectorists. A standout discovery is a hoard of 179 silver pennies dated to 1066, containing only coins from King Harold II and likely buried in the final weeks of Anglo-Saxon rule as England braced for invasion. Norwegian king Harald Hardrada briefly captured York before being killed at Stamford Bridge, and Harold II's army then marched south to face William of Normandy at Hastings. County hotspots for PAS finds included Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, and Gloucester.
Read at ianVisits
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]