'Dad had a gun under his pillow': The story of how the largest collection of medieval coins was found

The text you provided is an excerpt about the discovery and subsequent handling of a medieval gold coin hoard, with details about who found it, the investigation that followed, some controversy, and the historical context of the find.

### Summary of Key Points:

– **Finders and Initial Actions:**
– Pete Hawkins, a 17-year-old site worker, was among those allowed to handle the treasure.
– Flint, Alfred Martin, Michael Blythe, and John Craughwell initially found the hoard and washed the coins.
– They reported the find to the police due to the size of the hoard and increasing official interest.

– **Controversy:**
– Accusations arose that not all coins were handed in.
– There was a discrepancy between the number of coins recorded and the number handed over.
– Local policeman PC Howard Taylor was suspended while an investigation was conducted.

– **Official Handling:**
– Detective William Wilson was appointed coroner’s officer to manage the case.
– He kept the gold coins at home in a leather case, which he guarded carefully.
– Wilson took the treasure to London for expert assessment, traveling in a secure police car due to concerns about theft, especially with the recent theft of the Jules Rimet Trophy.

– **Subsequent Theft:**
– Someone calling himself Hewlitt Cosgrove Thompson sold about 50 coins to a dealer in London for over £23,000.
– Suspicious dealers alerted the British Museum.

– **Historical Context:**
– The coins dated from the 1350s to 1464, in the period of the Wars of the Roses.
– The latest date on the coins (1464) linked to the conflict between Yorkist King Edward IV and Lancastrian King Henry VI.
– Many coins depicted King Henry VI and had decorations.
– About 18% of the coins were foreign (from France, Scotland, Burgundy), indicating the political complexity of that period.
– The hoard might be linked to the Battle of Hexham, possibly buried by a Lancastrian fleeing or a Yorkist who stole the coins.

If you want more detailed information or specific insights on any part of this story—such as the historical significance, the investigation details, or the coins’ artistry—please let me know!

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More