The Silsden Hoard is an assemblage containing
27 gold coins of late British Iron Age date and a Roman
finger ring.
Discovery
The Hoard was discovered in 1998 by metal detectorist
Jeff Walbank in a field at Silsden in West Yorkshire. The
hoard was declared Treasure Trove before being acquired by
Bradford Art Galleries and Museums in 2000. The Hoard is now
on display at Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley, near to
their point of discovery.
Contents of the Hoard
The Silsden Hoard was found to contain 27 gold staters
dating from the 1st century AD. Most of the coins were
issued by Cunobelinus, at various times throughout his
reign. Others were issued by his brother Epaticcus. Coins of
the Corieltauvi were also part of the hoard.
In addition to the coins, a finger ring, almost certainly
of Roman provenance, was also found. The ring contains a
gemstone bearing the figure of a man. The exact means of how
this came to be a part of the Hoard are still subject to
debate.
Historical background
The Hoard is one of three found in the former territories
of the Brigantes, all of which contain Corieltauvian coins.
It is thought that the hoards were deposited by British
refugees fleeing the Roman invasion of AD 43, under the
Emperor Claudius and, as such, may be associated with
accounts of the flight of Caratacus, the son of Cunobelinus,
whose policies were used by the Romans as a pretext for the
invasion.
External links
-
Bradford Art Galleries and Museums' description of the
Hoard [Dead link]
From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silsden_Hoard
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