File:Iron Age, gold staters (FindID 249236).jpg

A hoard of 4 Iron Age staters and 1 Roman denarius (of Vespasian?).

Four of the five coins delivered to the British Museum in November 2007 are Iron Age coins. These appear to represent addenda to another hoard (2006 T494) found at the same site.

Several other groups of coins have been found in the same field and those adjacent to it (see 2006 T148 and 2002 T92; 2003 T401; 2004 T468; 2006 T26; 2007 T48; 2007 T597). The fifth coin referred to above is probably related to the Roman hoard and is considered separately (see 2008 T153).

The four Iron Age coins comprise three gold 'staters' and one silver 'unit' all of which date to the late first century BC or early first century AD. Coins of these types were produced locally and are therefore associated with the Corieltavi, a tribe who are thought to have inhabited the modern north-east Midlands, Humberside and parts of Yorkshire in the late Iron Age. The four coins form a convincing hoard group or votive assemblage.

The Coins

1. Gold plated copper alloy 'South Ferriby' type stater; VA 811.23 = BMC 3149 = ABC 1743

This coin is an ancient plated imitation. It is made of a base metal (copper alloy) and the surface is plated with gold. Plated imitations are common in the Iron Age. Diameter: 21 mm; Weight: 5.23 g. This coin has now been registered as CCI 08.6254.

2. Gold 'Kite' type stater; VA 825.09 = BMC3184 = ABC 1761

Diameter: 19 mm; Weight: 5.33 g. Registered as CCI 08.6255.

3. Gold plated copper alloy VOLISIOS DVMNOCOVEROS stater; VA 978.02 = BMC 3337 = ABC 1980

This coin is also an ancient plated imitation. Diameter: 19.2 mm; Weight: 5.27 g. Registered as CCI 08.6257.

4. Silver AVN COST unit; VA 914.03 = BMC 3261 = ABC 1935

Diameter: 14.7 mm; Weight: 0.74 g. Registered as CCI 08.6256.

Date, Metal Content, Findspot

The coins satisfy the terms of the Treasure Act with regard to age, number and metal content. However, given the reported circumstances of discovery, these coins should all be considered as Treasure on the strength of their association with the earlier North Dalton Iron Age hoard (2006 T494). Furthermore, as I highlighted in my report on this earlier find, it seems highly likely that the deposition of these coins is closely related to those reported as the 'Driffield' hoard, discovered only several hundred meters away. It may be possible to establish the nature of the relationship between the North Dalton Iron Age and the Driffield hoard with the full cooperation of the three separate groups of finders and the local Finds Liaison Officer.