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09:58 GMT, Monday, 3 November 2008

£50,000 reward in coin theft hunt

Old Scottish coin

A £50,000 reward has been offered for the return of a "unique" collection of Scots coins stolen last year.

They were taken from the home of Lord and Lady Stewartby at Broughton in the Borders and are worth about £500,000.

The items have been described as the most important collection of early Scottish coins ever assembled with some dating back nearly 900 years.

A reward has now been offered for any information which leads to the return of the coins to their rightful owner.

The theft took place overnight between 6 and 7 June 2007.

The collection had been amassed by Lord Stewartby over a period of some 50 years.

"We are hoping that the prospect of a £50,000 reward may help jog the memories of those who could help us in our enquiries"
Lothian and Borders Police spokesman

Nick Holmes, senior curator of numismatics at the National Museum of Scotland, said the coins were of huge importance.

"This collection is a unique part of Scottish history and the impact of its loss cannot be overstated," he said.

Police suspect the involvement of organised crime in the theft.

Their enquiries have led them to believe that a gang from the west of Scotland with underworld links may have been involved.

Although a "significant enquiry" has been carried out in respect of the theft, police are issuing a fresh appeal to the public for help in tracing the coins.

Contact police

A police spokesman said: "The coins are unsellable on the market because they are so well known, and dealers and others in the coin trade have been checking the source of any early Scottish coins that appear for sale.

"We are hoping that the prospect of a £50,000 reward may help jog the memories of those who could help us in our enquiries.

"We would urge anyone with any information about the whereabouts of these coins to contact police immediately."

Information can also be left on the confidential Crimestoppers phone line.



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Related to this story:
Coin theft police look overseas (18 Jul 07 |  South of Scotland )
Rare coins worth £500,000 stolen (09 Jul 07 |  South of Scotland )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Lothian and Borders Police
Coin collecting
National Museums of Scotland
Royal Numismatic Society
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