A metal detectorist in north Wales has unearthed what could be the largest cache of ancient Roman coins Wales has ever seen. David Moss, a 36-year-old from Cheshire, discovered two clay pots containing between 10,000 and 15,000 coins—potentially the biggest Roman coin hoard in Welsh history.
Discovery of a Lifetime in Untouched Welsh Land
Moss, who has spent nearly a decade metal detecting, described the discovery site as a “virtually untouched” region steeped in history from the times of the Druids to the Romans. “I had goosebumps. A rainbow appeared minutes before the signal was found—I couldn’t believe it,” he said. The roman coin detectorist wales find was made with the help of his friend Ian Nicholson after a six-hour excavation.
Fearing theft, Moss slept with the pots in his car for three nights before safely delivering them to experts at the National Museum Cardiff, where the coins are now being examined.
Experts Believe It’s Wales’ Largest Roman Coin Hoard
Anthony Halse, Chairman of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Numismatic Society, said the discovery could surpass the previous record of 10,000 coins found near Chepstow in the 1990s. He believes the detectorist roman coin hoard may have belonged to Roman soldiers who buried their savings for safekeeping.
The National Museum Cardiff will now clean and date the coins, with an assessment expected to be completed next year. Once the process concludes, both Moss and the landowner will share the financial reward based on the hoard’s valuation.
Experts Believe It’s Wales’ Largest Roman Coin Hoard
Anthony Halse, Chairman of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Numismatic Society, said the discovery could surpass the previous record of 10,000 coins found near Chepstow in the 1990s. He believes the detectorist roman coin hoard may have belonged to Roman soldiers who buried their savings for safekeeping.
The National Museum Cardiff will now clean and date the coins, with an assessment expected to be completed next year. Once the process concludes, both Moss and the landowner will share the financial reward based on the hoard’s valuation.
Treasure Laws and Preservation
In Wales, any treasure more than 300 years old must be reported to a Finds Liaison Officer within 14 days. Experts caution finders not to clean or move discovered coins to prevent damage. Under the Treasure Act 1996, failure to report such finds can lead to fines or imprisonment.
Past cases have shown the importance of honesty; in one instance, a man was jailed for concealing £3 million worth of Viking coins. The story serves as a warning for future finders to follow legal reporting procedures when uncovering ancient Roman coins Wales treasures.
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This story was first reported by BBC Wales. Read the full article here.
