Friday Update: 10 March 2023

March 10, 2023March 17, 2023 Paul

Editorial

As I look out of my office window at the snow covered landscape and ponder the forecast for the temperature to drop to -10C tonight, I’m not sure I’ll be venturing out much tomorrow. If you’re in the same boat, the good news is that we’ve got a bumper edition to read this week.

Amongst 11 Readers Finds, we have a coin with probably the highest value that we have given to a find sent into this website. After seeing our auction report a couple of weeks ago on the sale of two Anglo Saxon saucer brooches, Mike Ruczynski sent in his brother’s find of one of them and wrote “if 2 saucer brooches are worth £ 24000 is this one John found worth £12000. ha ha some hope“; valuation report below.

Plenty to report in Auction News; one auction house stops a popular auction, which always included several detecting finds, whilst another opens its doors for the first time. Plus we have the results of one Noonans auction and the review of the next. This one includes a Memento Mori ring, found last year by detectorist David Nicklin. One of the common themes of these stories is that the detectorist’s wife has plans for the proceeds.

In Treasure News, another detectorist kindly donates his Treasure find to a museum. However, should a single cut coin be classed as Treasure? Have a look at our report and see what you think.

And finally, in PAS Finds, an object of National Importance but with some uncertainty as to its purpose.

Auction News

This week, we have news of one auction house holding its first auction and another holding its last, hopefully for the time being, of an auction of particular interest to detectorists.

Hosker Haynes Auctioneers Limited is a new auction house and we have a review of their first auction below.

And it’s Charles Hanson who informed me that his popular Historica sales have now ceased. He said that the two people who did the cataloguing for the Historica Auctions had left his employment and he had not been able to find replacements. I was sorry to hear this, as these sales were one of the very few in England that included artefacts of all periods and types. We now have a gap in the market, so let’s hope that another firm of auctioneers will take up the space left by the demise of Hanson’s Historica Auctions.

Hosker Haynes first auction

The auction on 28 March 2023 has a collection of Anglo-Saxon coins and some outstanding hammered gold and silver, including this Testoon of Henry VIII, with an estimate of £18,000 to £20,000

Below we have the results of Noonans auction last week and their next auction this week coming

Noonans sell Cockeram ring and other detecting finds

The auction includes this Memento Mori ring, found by detectorist David Nicklin last year, and several other detecting finds

Noonans sell detectorist’s collection including the Lissington Horse and Rider

Ken Toyne’s coin collection sells well but his horse and rider slightly disappoints

Treasure News

Tashkent treasure donated to museum

Two parts to this story. Firstly, it’s good to hear the Treasure Registrars thanks another detectorist, Dave Haldenby, for donating his Treasure find to his local museum.

Secondly, his find is a single silver coin that has been cut in half. You may not have considered this to be Treasure. Have a read of the PAS‘s rationale for deciding that this is Treasure and see what you think.

Identification and Valuations

11 more readers finds this week. Thanks to all those who have sent them in

Find of the Week

Penny of Henry Murdac

Ian Sharman’s find is one of this highest valued coins that we have had sent in to this website

Runner Up

Sixpence of Elizabeth I

Michael Applegate said this coin came out of Somerset soil on 26 February

Halfgroat of Edward III

Tony Hollis said this coin turned up in Cambridgeshire on 2 March

George III halfpenny

The coin featured here was found very recently by Colin Barton

Threepence piece of Elizabeth I

This was unearthed by Martin Depear on Sunday 5 March and I was asked to give a full ID and a valuation

Continental sterling of Thomas de Bourlemont

Steven Simmons said this coin was found one inch below the surface of a pasture field that he had searched a hundred times

Shilling of George II

The finder of this coin, Michael Poole, asked for a full ID and a valuation.

Irish halfpenny of James II

This Irish coin was found earlier this year by Michael Gallon

PAS Finds (w/e 03/03/23) – 11th century die stamp

A curious piece of copper alloy with a design from the last phase of Viking art. It’s a Find of Note of National Importance but what was it used for?

Previous Website Updates

You can find all previous website updates in News

Next week

Help with the next edition

Please help me with next week’s edition. If you’ve been out detecting again or taking the time to go through your collection, please contact me with anything you find of interest or would like me to identify.