Silsden Hoard facts for kids

The Silsden Hoard is a special collection of 27 shiny gold coins from the end of the British Iron Age. This was a time in Britain before the Romans arrived. The hoard also includes an iron finger ring from Roman times.

How the Hoard Was Found

A man named Jeff Walbank found this amazing hoard in 1998. He was using a metal detector in a field near Silsden, in West Yorkshire, England.

After it was found, the hoard was officially called "treasure." This means it's very important and belongs to the nation. In 2000, the Bradford Art Galleries and Museums bought the hoard. Today, you can see the Silsden Hoard at Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley. This museum is close to where the treasure was first discovered.

What Was Inside the Hoard

The Silsden Hoard contained 27 gold coins called staters. These coins were made around the 1st century AD. Most of them were made by a powerful king named Cunobelinus. He ruled a long time ago. Some other coins were made by his brother, Epaticcus. There were also coins from a group of people called the Corieltauvi.

Besides the coins, there was an iron finger ring. This ring was almost certainly made by the Romans. It has a special gemstone with a picture of a man on it. Experts are still trying to figure out exactly how this Roman ring ended up with the British coins.

Why Was the Hoard Hidden?

The Silsden Hoard is one of three similar hoards found in the area where the Brigantes people used to live. All these hoards contain coins from the Corieltauvi.

Historians believe these hoards were buried by British people who were trying to escape. They were fleeing from the Roman invasion of Britain. This invasion happened in AD 43, led by the Emperor Claudius. The Romans used the actions of Caratacus, King Cunobelinus's son, as a reason to invade Britain. It's possible that the Silsden Hoard was hidden by people connected to Caratacus as they tried to get away from the Roman army.