A remarkable find of 321 silver coins from the 11th century has been unearthed in Suffolk, shedding light on a turbulent historical period.

Suffolk: Archaeologists have stumbled upon an incredible treasure trove. They found a stash of 321 silver coins from the 11th century, and it’s a big deal!
This discovery happened near a nuclear plant that’s being built. One archaeologist, Andrew Pegg, was so excited he said he was “shaking” when he first saw the coins. They’re in mint condition and date back to between 1036 and 1044.
Experts believe these coins might tell us a lot about the time of King Edward the Confessor. His reign was pretty chaotic, and it seems like people were worried about the political climate back then.
The coins were hidden away, possibly by someone who feared for their wealth during Edward’s rule. It’s thought that this stash could buy around 16 cows back in the day, which was a lot of money!
Interestingly, this isn’t the only hoard from that time. There are now three known hoards from the early years of Edward’s reign, suggesting that things were pretty unstable.
Researchers think the last owner of these coins might have been someone important locally. They likely buried their treasure just after Edward took the throne, fearing for their safety.
Finding coins like these is rare. They were carefully wrapped in lead and fabric before being buried, which helped preserve them. Most treasures like this have been lost over the years due to farming and metal detecting.
Bliss, a coin specialist, explained that keeping the pouch intact is crucial for understanding how the coins were stored. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the past!
There are a few theories about why the coins were never dug up. Maybe the owner died before they could retrieve them, or perhaps they were forced to leave the country and couldn’t come back.