Amateur metal detectorists discover 600-year-old coin hoard in Scotland

Live Science unveils in a fresh article that two amateur metal detectorists have unearthed a rare hoard of gold and silver coins in the Scottish Borders. 

Amateur metal detector enthusiasts Keith Young and Lisa Stephenson have uncovered a 600-year-old treasure trove of gold and silver coins in the Scottish Borders, calling it "the find of a lifetime."

The discovery began when the pair unearthed 30 coins minted in both Scotland and England during the 15th century. The remarkable find was made near the village of Cappercleuch, with the coins offering a glimpse into the economic and political landscape of medieval Britain.

"The hoard is the find of a lifetime," Stephenson said in a statement from Scotland's Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Among the coins were English silver groats minted under the reigns of Henry V (1413–1422) and Edward IV (1461–1483), as well as Scottish gold demy and half-demys from the reigns of James I (1406–1437) and James II (1437–1460). Each coin features the likeness of the monarch who issued it at the time.

The groat, a substantial silver coin introduced by Edward I in 1279, was initially valued at four pence. The Scottish gold demy, named after the French word "démier" meaning "half," was worth about nine shillings, roughly half the value of a noble coin. The gold half-demy, a smaller version, was valued at around 4.5 shillings.

After making the discovery, the duo contacted the Scottish Treasure Trove Unit, which investigates archaeological finds across the country. Archaeologists determined that the coins were likely buried in the early to mid-1460s. In addition, five more coins were found nearby, bringing the total to 35.

The coins will now be examined by the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP), which will also assign a monetary value to the hoard, rewarding the finders. Museums hoping to display the coins will need to raise funds for the "ex-gratia" reward.

By Naila Huseynova