In November, a pair of metal detectorists discovered a cache of 15th-century coins buried near Cappercleuch, a settlement at St. Mary’s Loch in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. The find was announced publicly this week.
The detectorists, Keith Young and Lisa Stephenson, uncovered 30 silver and gold coins. Specimens include Scottish gold demys and half demys from the reigns of James I (1406-37) and James II (1437-60) and English silver groats struck during the reigns of Henry V (1413-22) and Edward IV (1461-70).
Experts have determined the pieces were buried in the 1460s, a time of extreme political and military upheaval that saw many chaotic, violent power transitions. “Coin hoards containing a mix of both English and Scottish coins are not unusual, but we do not see many hoards from this period in Scotland, so it’s a fascinating find,” says Antony Less from the Treasure Trove Unit, which evaluates all archaeological finds in Scotland.
When the Treasure Trove Unit has concluded its evaluation, an independent panel will determine the cache’s value (the sum of which will go to the finders) and where it will end up (possibly at a museum). “It’s not about the money for us,” says Young. “The real reward is knowing we contributed to our understanding of the past.”
A version of this article appears in the April 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).