Mitton Hoard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitton Hoard |
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The Mitton Hoard on display at Clitheroe Castle
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| Material | silver |
| Created | Late 1420s |
| Discovered | 2006 or 7 September 2009 Mitton, Clitheroe 53°50′47″N 2°26′32″W / 53.84639°N 2.44222°W |
| Present location | Clitheroe Castle Museum |
The Mitton Hoard is a collection of old silver coins. It was found near Clitheroe in Lancashire, England. A "hoard" is a hidden collection of valuable items. This special hoard was discovered in either 2006 or 2009. Today, you can see the Mitton Hoard at the Clitheroe Castle Museum. The official record shows 11 silver coins or pieces of coins.
Discovering the Hoard
The Mitton Hoard was found in an area called Mitton. This area has two small villages, Great Mitton and Little Mitton. The coins were found west of Great Mitton. This spot is between two rivers, the River Hodder and the River Ribble. It was also close to a bend in the River Hodder.
There are two different dates for when the hoard was found. Some records say it was in 2006. Other records state the coins were found on Monday, September 7, 2009. A metal detector was used to find them. Once found, the collection was officially declared a "treasure." This means it is very important and belongs to the public. The museum services then took care of the hoard.
What the Hoard Tells Us
Historians can figure out when the Mitton Hoard was hidden. They do this by looking at the newest coin in the collection. The newest coin in this hoard was made in the 1420s. This means the hoard was likely hidden or lost around that time.
The coins in the hoard are made of different types of silver. The English silver coins are very pure, about 97.5% silver. Some pieces are from France and are about 80% pure silver. Most small value coins from that time are included in the hoard. It is believed that all these coins could have been used at the same time. The hoard was probably either lost by accident or hidden on purpose.
Coins in the Hoard
The official count of the treasure is 11 silver coins or pieces. Here is what was found:
- Three pennies from the time of King Edward I or Edward II of England.
- Two half-groats from the reign of Edward III of England.
- One halfpenny from the time of Richard II of England.
- Three groats from the reign of Henry VI of England.
- Two small pieces of coins made for Gaucher V de Châtillon. He was a very important person in France. He was the Constable of France from 1302 to 1329. These two pieces were made between 1313 and 1322.
It is interesting to note that while 11 coins are officially documented, there are 27 coins on display at the Clitheroe Castle Museum.
See also
- List of hoards in Britain
- History of the English penny (1154–1485)
