Iron Age Bury St. Edmunds hoard to be auctioned

Professor Licence found an interesting hoard, known as The Bury St Edmunds Hoard, in Britain last year.



The remarkable Iron Age hoard of 18 gold coins was discovered on March 9, 2024, by Prof. Tom Licence of the University of East Anglia while metal-detecting near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. The coins date to the reign of Dubnovellaunos, a ruler of the Trinovantes tribe between 25 BC and AD 10, and the find is now considered the largest known hoard associated with him.




Tom Licence, Professor of Medieval History and Literature at the University of East Anglia:




The hoard includes 16 gold staters and 1 quarter-stater, along with an Addedomaros wheel stater that helps confirm the correct spelling of the ruler Addedomaros’s name. One coin was struck from a previously unrecorded die, adding to the scholarly value of the discovery.



The coins were found on an east-facing slope, a location often associated with ritual or votive deposits. Licence believes the combination of the rising sun and a nearby spring suggests a spiritual purpose behind the burial.

The hoard is expected to fetch around £25,000 at auction. The sale is scheduled for April 10, 2024, with individual coins estimated at £1,500-£3,600. Licence and the landowner will each keep one coin and share compensation through the Portable Antiquities Scheme.



Here is information from the auctioneer's catalogue:

Who Were the Trinovantes?

The Trinovantes were among the most powerful Iron Age tribes in southeastern Britain before the Roman conquest. They minted their own coinage and maintained political ties with neighboring tribes, including the Catuvellauni. Their territory encompassed modern Essex, Suffolk, and parts of Hertfordshire.



Why Gold Staters Matter:

Gold staters were high‑value coins used for:

Elite gift‑exchange

Paying warriors or mercenaries

Ritual offerings

Diplomatic relationships between tribes

Finding a concentrated group of them—especially from a single ruler—is rare and historically significant.



Dubnovellaunos: A Shadowy King

Dubnovellaunos is known primarily through:

Coin inscriptions

A brief mention in Roman sources

His rule likely overlapped with the early years of Roman expansion into Britain. Coins bearing his name help historians map political boundaries and alliances during a turbulent period.



Religious Significance of Hoards

Many Iron Age hoards appear to be votive offerings rather than savings buried for later retrieval. Common features include:

Placement near springs or water sources

Burial on hill slopes or ridges

Orientation toward the rising sun

The location of this hoard fits that pattern, strengthening the theory of ritual deposition.



History professor finds huge Iron Age hoard


Summary of Info - Noonans.indd

 

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Good read thanks Bart.

 

I corrected the typo. Sorry. The auction is in a few days (not in April 2024 as originally written).