Ancient coins found in Charlwood field are treasure, coroner rules

[Kev]

A CORONER has ruled that a collection of Iron Age and Roman coins and artefacts unearthed near Charlwood is "treasure".

The find of 13 silver Roman denarius coins, two Iron Age gold coins and six miniature replicas of everyday household items dating back about 2,000 years, is now the property of the Crown.
At an inquest in Woking on Tuesday, Surrey coroner Mr Richard Travers determined the finds were likely to have been deliberately deposited over many years, possibly as offerings to gods.

Percy William Westnedge has farmed a large part of Norwood Hill, where the treasure was found, since 1947, and he attended the hearing with his stepson and co-farmer Paul Knight.

The coroner heard the farmers allowed the Weald and Downland Metal Detecting Club to search their land.

It was on a club outing in November 2010 that the first discovery of the silver denarius coins was made. Subsequent visits uncovered more.

Richard Abdy, of the British Museum, reported that the earliest coins were two gold quarter staters, which both carried a horse design and dated to between 50BC and 20BC.

The Roman coins were from the time of the emperors Otho (69AD), Vespasian (69-79AD), Trajan (98-107AD), Hadrian (119-138AD), Antoninus Pius (138-161AD) and Diva Faustina I (also 138-161AD).

Guildford Museum has expressed an interest in buying the collection from the Crown.

Under the 1996 Treasure Act, the equivalent of the purchase price will be divided equally between the landowner and the 12 finders. Owing to the poor condition of the Roman coins, the value is not expected to be a significant sum.

Mr Travers said: "It is amazing how far back in time they go. It is an important part of Surrey's history."