A coin has been found that belongs to the Herefordshire Hoard, a huge collection of Viking Age treasure that was illegally removed from a field near the English town of Leominster in 2015.
It is hoped that the coin, which was discovered for sale in Croydon, London, can be returned to the county of Herefordshire in the near future.
The big steal
The contents of the Herefordshire Hoard were dug up by two metal detectorists, George Powell and Layton Davies.
Although the pair had clearly unearthed a significant number of valuable items—including more than 300 ancient coins—they failed to notify the authorities of their find. Instead, they attempted to sell the artifacts on the black market, a clear crime under UK law.
Although both Powell and Davies later received custodial sentences, the local West Mercia Police have struggled to reclaim the stolen treasure.
There have been successes, however. In addition to 72 coins, a number of other valuable items have also been recovered, including a gold ring, crystal rock pendant, and dragon's head bracelet.
The collection has been dated to the late 9th century.
The community in Herefordshire also got involved, organizing a fundraising campaign that enabled the local municipality to purchase these valuable pieces so they can be enjoyed by the general public.
Last year, the collection was also presented at the Jorvik Viking Center in York as part of a special display.
So far, 72 coins, a gold octagonal ring, a silver ingot, and a crystal pendant have been recovered. Photo: British Museum / Herefordshire Council
Police cooperation
According to a recent BBC report, West Mercia Police were informed of the latest item from the hoard to appear by their counterparts in London.
"We have been notified by colleagues at the Metropolitan Police that a coin, believed to be part of the Herefordshire Hoard, has surfaced for sale in Croydon," Detective Inspector Ben Pearson of West Mercia Police commented to the BBC.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish how this coin came to be in London."
"Some of the hoard remains unaccounted for and we remain open-minded as to its whereabouts," Pearson added. "We will continue to investigate any items that come to light and may be linked."
Given that photos taken by the pair at the time show more than 300 coins, it is believed that approximately 230 coins are still in circulation.
The total value of the hoard has been estimated at between 3 and 12 million GBP (4 to 16 million USD).
George Powell, also known as George Whittaker, has been on the run since skipping a parole meeting in October 2024. Photo: Gwent Police
Still on the run
Although Powell and Davies were due for release last year, this was subject to a condition that they both pay an additional sum of money as financial compensation for the crime.
Unable to find the funds, Davies was forced to remain in jail. Yet while Powell has also failed to meet the payment demands, he skipped a parole meeting last year and has been on the run from the police since October 2024.
At the time of writing, Powell, also known as George Whittaker, has still not been apprehended.
In other news, work on the new Hereford Museum and Art Gallery that will eventually house the Herefordshire Hoard collection continues apace.
The 22-million-pound project includes a purpose-built exhibition space for all of the items that have been recovered from the hoard.
It is hoped the latest coin to be found will eventually be able to join the rest of the artifacts on display.
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