News - Courtesy of
The Searcher Magazine
May 2000 Issue
September 1998 Issue
August 1998 Issue
The Silent Hoard
February 1998 - News of a hoard known as THE SILENT HOARD.
Burglar's cache of stolen jewellery
A Cardiff detectorist uncovered a biscuit tin containing thousands of pounds worth of
stolen gold and silver jewellery. Police are trying to trace the owners.
Another gold coin from Marazion beach.
Graham Dyer of penzance, detecting on Marazion beach, found a Portuguese gold coin, a
400 "reis" of King John V, dated 1716. A few years ago he found a medieval gold
coin on a different part of the same beach.
Dispute over Portuguese coin on Australian beach.
A beachcomber in Victoria, Australia found what is claimed to be a 500-year-old
Portuguese coin. It has been taken as evidence that Australia was discovered by the
Portuguese in the 1520's. Other experts dispute this and say it is a Spanish counterfeit
coin struck later.
Stop-Press: We have just had a report that states that this coin is in actual fact a
lead counterfeit.
Roman Hoard of counterfeit coins.
A hoard of Roman coins of the first century AD has been shown to be
counterfeit made in the reign of Tiberius Caesar (41-45). Because they are base metal
counterfeits, they are not subject to Treasure Trove law but the Department of National
heritage has temporarily blocked their export while the British Museum negotiates their
purchase to keep them in Britain.