'A find of a lifetime' says metal detectorist who unearthed treasure

Silver coins go on display at Manx Museum today  

A 'hoard' of Viking coins which has been discovered on the Isle of Man will go on display at the Manx Museum today (2 October). 

Thirty-six silver coins, consisting of 46 separate fragments, were found earlier this year in a field next to the coast by David O'Hare and John Crowe. 

Mr O'Hare, who has been enjoying his hobby for 20 years, has previously found brooches. 

The coins were revealed to be 90 per cent pure silver.

This week, the find, which dates back to between 1000 AD and 1065 AD, was declared treasure at Douglas Courthouse. 

Manx Radio's Chanelle Sukhoo spoke to Mr O'Hare and, the curator of archaeology at Manx National Heritage, Allison Fox: 

Earlier this summer the hoard was studied by the world’s leading expert in Viking Age coins from the Isle of Man, Dr Kristin Bornholdt Collins, an independent researcher and numismatist based in New Hampshire in America.

She confirmed that the hoard includes pennies minted in England and Ireland dating from between around AD 1000 to 1065.

The majority were minted during the reign of Edward the Confessor (AD 1042 to 1066) with the English kings Aethelred II (AD 978 - 1016) and Canute (AD 1016 to 1035) also represented.

There are various English mints represented including York, London, Lincoln, Cambridge, Hastings, Ipswich and Exeter.

You can listen to the full interview with Alison and David in our latest episode of NEWSCAST.