English: Treasure case: 2012 T242: Acquired by Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter

Findspot: Chardstock, Devon

Date: 1607-1625 AD

Description: Thirteen silver coins found in close proximity while metal detecting on grassland during a metal detecting rally. Once the first few coins had been found and it was clear there was a hoard the area was roped off and searched carefully using several different detectors. As Finds Liaison Officer I was present at the rally and able to observe the last part of this search and the turf stripping.

The findspot was on a western slope of a hill just above a modern field boundary. Along this boundary (on the North East side) ran a sunken area identified as an old road (now replaced by a parallel route further up the hill). The coins came from the bank of this sunken area.

Discussions with the landowner suggested that the field had not been ploughed within the 20th century but was previously covered in large gorse bushes, the growth and removal of which involved considerable ground disturbance.

The majority of the coins (eleven) came from a concentration of c.2 meters square concentrated around ST 27898 05938. Two (coins 11 and 12) were further away but within c.3 meters (GPS findspots given by coin). None were physically adjacent being, at the closest, about 15 centimetres apart. Careful examination was made of each findspot by the FLO and no pottery or other evidence of a container was found. It was noted that, while the entire field was stony, there seemed to be an unusual concentration of larger stones in the area of the type found naturally from the underlying geology.

After eleven of the coins were found and no more seemed likely to be retrieved the turf was removed over the 2 meter area and the area examined. It was also further checked with a detector and two smaller coins (coins 6 and 10) were recovered. This stripped area showed further evidence of a concentration of larger stones forming a loose layer on the slope but not clearly structural or laid in courses.

English: Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

1. Silver sixpence, Tower mint, dated 1572 on coin, North 1997. Worn. The coin is slightly bent with one part of the edge bent up at 90 degrees.

OBV: Crowned bust facing left, rose behind head

Inscr: (EL)IZABET(H:) D'. G'. ANG'. FR('). ET: H(I'). REGINA

Initial mark: (Ermine)

REV: Square topped royal shield over long cross fourchée which divides the legend, date above shield, 1572.

Inscr: POSVI /DEV'. AD/IVTO[RE]/M. MEV'.

Initial mark: (Ermine)

Die axis: 10

Diameter: 25.4mm, Thickness: 0.9mm, Weight: 2.83g

2. Silver sixpence, Tower mint, dated 1580 on coin, North 1997. Worn

OBV: Crowned bust facing left, rose behind head

Inscr: ELIZABETH: D'. G'. ANG'. FR'. ET: HI'. REGINA

Initial mark: Long cross

REV: Square topped royal shield over long cross fourchée which divides the legend, date above shield, 1580.

Inscr: POSVI /DEV'. AD/IVTORE/M. MEV'.

Initial mark: Long cross

Die axis: 3

Diameter: 26.6mm, Thickness: 0.6mm, Weight: 2.99g

3. Silver sixpence, Tower mint, dated 1582 on coin, North 1997. Worn

OBV: Crowned bust facing left, rose behind head

Inscr: ELIZABETH: D'. G'. ANG'. FR'. ET: HI'. [RE]GINA

Initial mark: (Sword)

REV: Square topped royal shield over long cross fourchée which divides the legend, date above shield, 1582.

Inscr: POSVI /DEV'. AD/IVTORE/M. MEV'.

Initial mark: (Sword)

Die axis: 2

Diameter: 25.8mm, Thickness: 0.6mm, Weight: 2.95g

4. Silver sixpence, Tower mint, dated 1594 on coin, North 2015. Worn

OBV: Crowned bust facing left, rose behind head

Inscr: ELIZAB.' D.' G.' ANG[ F]R ET. HIB'. REGI.'

Initial mark: Woolpack

REV: Square topped royal shield over long cross fourchée which divides the legend, date above shield, 1594, 4 stamped over 3.

Inscr: POSVI /DEV. AD/IVTORE/M. MEV

Initial mark: Woolpack

Die axis: 6

Diameter: 26.4mm, Thickness: 0.8mm, Weight: 3.01g

5. Silver threepence, Tower mint, dated 1579 on coin, North 1998. Worn

OBV: Crowned bust facing left, rose behind head

Inscr: ELI[ZA]B[ET]H.' D.' G.' ANG'. [FR ET] HI REGINA

Initial mark: Plain cross

REV: Square topped royal shield over long cross fourchée which divides the legend, date above shield, 1579

Inscr: POSVI /DEV'. AD/IVTORE/M. MEV'.

Initial mark: Plain cross

Die axis: 8

Diameter: 19.3mm, Thickness: 0.4mm, Weight: 1.23g

6. Silver three halfpence, Tower mint, dated 1572 on coin, North 2000. Worn

OBV: Crowned bust facing left, rose behind head

Inscr: .E': D'. G'. ROSA . SINE . SPINA .

Initial mark: Ermine

REV: Square topped royal shield over long cross fourchée which divides the legend, date above shield, 1572.

Inscr: [CIV]I/TAS/ LON/DO[N].

Initial mark: [Ermine]

Die axis: 10

Diameter: 16.1mm, Thickness: 0.5mm, Weight: 0.62g

English: James I (1603-1625)

7. Silver shilling, Tower mint, 1606-7 AD, North 2100. Worn.

OBV: Crowned bust facing right, XII behind head

Inscr: .IACOBVS D'. G'. MAG [BRIT] FRA'. ET. HIB'. REX.

Initial mark: Escallop

REV: Square topped royal shield.

Inscr: .QVAE. DEVS. CONIVNXIT. NEMO. SEP[ARE]T.

Initial mark: Escallop

Die axis: 7

Diameter: 31.4mm, Thickness: 0.9mm, Weight: 5.94g

8. Silver sixpence, Tower mint, dated 1603 on coin, North 2075. Slightly worn.

OBV: Crowned bust facing right, VI behind head

Inscr: .IACOBVS. D'. G'. ANG'. SCO'. FRA'. ET. HIB'. REX.

Initial mark: Thistle

REV: Square topped royal shield with date, 1603, above shield.

Inscr: .EXVRGAT. DEVS. DISSIPENTVR. INIMICI.

Initial mark: Thistle

Die axis: 8

Diameter: 27.3mm, Thickness: 0.7mm, Weight: 2.85g

9. Silver halfgroat, Tower mint, 1604-5 AD, North 2076. Very worn.

OBV: Crowned bust facing right, II behind head

Inscr: .I. D. [G R]OSA. SINE. SPINA.

Initial mark: Lis

REV: Square topped royal shield with initial mark above shield.

Inscr: None

Initial mark: [Lis]

Die axis: 9

Diameter: 18.2mm, Thickness: 0.6mm, Weight: 0.94g

Findspot: ST 27896 05940

10. Silver halfgroat, Tower mint, 1607-1609AD, North 2104. Very worn, double struck.

OBV: Crowned rose

Inscr: [I. D. G ROSA.] SINE. SINA.

Initial mark: [Coronet]

REV: Crowned thistle.

Inscr: TVEA[TVR V]NITA. DEVS

Initial mark: Coronet

Die axis: 5

Diameter: 16.4mm, Thickness: 0.8mm, Weight: 1.03g

Scottish: James VI (1567-1625) - James I of England

11. Silver thistle merk, dated 1602 on coin, Spink 5467. Worn.

OBV: Crowned shield of Scotland

Inscr: IACOBVS. 6. [D. G]. R. SCOTORVM.

REV: Crowned thistle.

Inscr: R[EGE]M. IOVA. PROTEGIT. 1602

Die axis: 5

Diameter: 32.2mm, Thickness: 1.3mm, Weight: 6.45g

Findspot: ST 27899 05928

Irish: James I (1603-1625)

12. Silver shilling, second coinage, third bust, 1605-6 AD, Spink 6515. Very worn.

OBV: Crowned bust facing right.

Inscr: .IACOBVS. D'. G'. MAG'. BRIT'. FRA'. ET. HIB. REX'

Initial mark: Rose

REV: Crowned harp.

Inscr: .HENRICVS. ROSAS. REGNA. IACOBVS.

Initial mark: Rose

Die axis: 3

Diameter: 27.8mm, Thickness: 1.1mm, Weight: 4.38g

Findspot: ST27896 05945

Spanish: Ferdinand and Isabella (1474-1504)

13. Silver half real, possibly minted at Seville, 1474-1504 AD.

OBV: Yoke, representing Ferdinand, possibly an angled S at 7 o'clock near the inner circle.

Inscr: Illegible

REV: Bunch of arrows, representing Isabella, bound at the centre by a yoke.

Inscr: Illegible

Die axis: 12

Diameter: 21.9mm, Thickness: 0.6mm, Weight: 1.30g