Chelmsford, Norwich Museums Acquire Largest Iron Age, Anglo-Saxon Gold Coin Hoards

Two significant hoards of ancient gold coins have recently been acquired by British museums, shedding light on different historical periods. The Museum of Chelmsford secured the Great Baddow Hoard, the largest recorded Iron Age gold coin collection in Britain, consisting of 933 coins dating from 60–20 BC, which provides archaeological evidence of early coinage by Iron Age tribes and hints at interactions with Roman forces. Meanwhile, Norwich Castle Museum has acquired the West Norfolk Hoard, the largest collection of 7th-century gold coins found in Britain, comprising 129 coins with diverse designs from 51 different European mints, primarily Frankish tremisses from the Merovingian kingdoms, which predate Anglo-Saxon gold coinage and highlight early medieval Continental connections. Both acquisitions were supported by significant funding, including from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for Chelmsford and the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, and Wolfson Foundation for Norwich. These hoards not only enrich the archaeological record but also provide invaluable resources for researchers and the public, with planned exhibitions to display these treasures. The discovery stories also include legal and ethical dimensions, such as the jailing of a finder who tried to sell part of the West Norfolk Hoard illegally.