Every metal detectorist dreams of the moment when a find is officially declared treasure. For The Bearded Bleepers that moment has finally arrived and what a story it is.
What began as an ordinary dig on our Surrey Hills permission has turned into a milestone in our journey. This summer Ashley uncovered a beautiful hammered shilling of Edward VI. Fast forward to this winter and Michael H made a discovery just fifteen paces away, another Edward VI hammered shilling, almost identical and unbelievably found right next to a fork, just like Ashleys.
At first we simply marvelled at the coincidence. But when the Finds Liaison Officer for Surrey examined the coins everything changed. He explained that Edward VI shillings are very uncommon, produced only during the boy kings short reign from 1547 to 1553. Finding two together so close in both location and type strongly suggests they were lost at the same time, an associated deposit. And that means one thing.
They have been officially declared treasure under the 1996 Treasure Act
This is the first treasure find in The Bearded Bleepers history and to say we are excited is an understatement. The coin is now being sent to the Coroner for the next step in the treasure process and we will share the outcome as soon as we know more.
How did the coins get there
That is the magic of metal detecting, the story is never complete, only imagined through clues in the soil. Were these shillings dropped by a tired traveller pulling off the old Surrey trackway for a nights rest? Was there a run in with one of Surreys notorious highwaymen? Could a poorly repaired Tudor pocket simply have leaked silver as someone crossed the hillside?
The Surrey Hills hold centuries of stories and these two shillings have just gifted us one of the best yet.
A milestone for our team
This declaration marks a huge moment for our group. It proves what we have always believed, that the Surrey soil still holds countless secrets and that even the fields we think we know can surprise us.
With one treasure find now behind us we are more determined than ever to keep exploring, keep learning and keep sharing the history beneath our boots.
Stay tuned. The Coroners decision is coming soon and who knows, the next treasure might already be waiting under the next swing of the coil.
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