British Iron Age gold coin worth £33,000 sold to US collector | UK News

Experts expressed disappointment after a hoard of historically important Iron Age gold coins was sold to an unnamed US collector.

The Bury St Edmunds hoard was worth a total of £33,200 when it went under the hammer at Noonans Mayfair, on March 4.

This is the largest hoard of Iron Age gold coins ever held during the reign of King Dubnovellaunos, who ruled over the Celtic Trinovantes tribe between 25 BC and 10 AD.

The coins feature a distinctive horse design as well as depictions of nature.

Known as staters, they were found in two packets by Tom License, professor of medieval history and literature at the University of East Anglia, in a field near Bury, in Suffolk.

In autumn 2024, 16 full gold Iron Age staters and a quarter stater were discovered, and these were immediately reported to the Finds Liaison Officer and declared treasure.

The 46-year-old returned to the site a few months later and found another starter.

Gareth Thomas, a Professor Emeritus at the University of East Anglia’s Faculty of Law wrote on BlueSky: ‘So, these historically important coins, which should have been in a museum in England, are now lost forever from this country. The results are sad and have a negative impact on all parties concerned.’

Medieval studies professor Leonie V. Hicks previously criticized the sale of the hoard on the same social media site.

‘There are a lot of disturbing things here,’ he wrote. ‘We lose valuable context, the stockpiles fragment and fall into private hands.’

But Professor License defended the sale and said it raised vital funds for future archaeological projects.

He said: ‘It is an honor to see expert collectors caring for these coins. Much research on ancient coins is carried out by collecting communities around the world.

“Without their contribution we would know little. With the share the landowner has generously given me, I will support archaeological work in Suffolk.”

Highlights of the auction included an Addedomaros wheel starter which fetched £4,600 against an estimate of £3,000-3,600.

A gold merchant from Dubnovellaunos (c. 5BC to AD10) realized a hammer price of £3,400 against an estimate of £1,500-£2,000.

Both coins were brought by the same collector in the US.

A collector in Switzerland bought another Addedomaros (c. 45 to 25 BC) gold stater also for a hammer price of £3,400. It is estimated to cost £1,000-£1,500.

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