Hallaton Treasure goes on display

The real coins will go on public display in Market Harborough

Imagine the scene - a relative buys you a metal detector for Christmas and off you toddle thinking you might find an odd bottle top or coke can at best.

Well in the case of one treasure hunter in Leicestershire it was several dozen coins, which have come to be known as the Hallaton Treasure.

They were unearthed in 2000, along with a silver helmet.

A new exhibition tells the story of the finding from the perspective of the people who found the treasure.

Treasure hunting

Chair of Hallaton Museum Carol Kirby is among the people who made the discovery.

"We realised very quickly that this was a very unusual find.

"We were all bowled over really and didn't quite understand initially how important it really was."

The find had to be kept secret in case the site was raided by opportunists hoping to get some of the loot for themselves.

It was fairly clear that we were dealing with something of national importance Peter Liddle, community archaeologist

The coins then had to be bought from the landowners and the metal detector who found them.

Peter Liddle is a community archaeologist and remembers the discovery first being brought in to County Hall.

"This essentially was more than all the Iron Age coins that I'd seen in the 30 years before from the whole of Leicestershire and Rutland.

"So clearly this was something quite different to anything we'd ever seen before - absolutely amazing find. That meant it was fairly clear that we were dealing with something of national importance."

There is some debate about the exact date of the coins, but experts estimate from about 50 BC right through to slightly beyond the Roman Conquest.

Replica coins and a helmet are on display at Hallaton Museum

"The Iron Age people didn't have writing, but these are the first examples of letters or wording on anything, and they happen to be discovered on our coins."

The Roman cavalry parade helmet was lifted out of the site in a block of earth and is still being excavated in the British Museum conservation lab.

Peter hopes that the delicate metal will survive as he believes it is probably the best example in the country.

There is still much confusion over the area, but archaeologists believe it may have been a religious site with the coins being a offering to the gods.

The Hallaton exhibition is open every weekend and bank holiday from 1430 to 1700 until the end of October, or by special arrangement.

The actual treasure will be on display in Harborough during September 2009.

To find out more contact the Hallaton Museum on 01858 555305.