Royal token and coins found in Axbridge and Weare are officially ruled as treasure

Historical items found by metal detectors in Axbridge and Weare were officially classed as treasure at an inquest yesterday (July 21).

A post-medieval silver jetton, or royal token, that dates to 1585 was found by Les Stanley on November 25 2019.

He was metal detecting on land in Axbridge that is owned by Paul Webber when he made his find.

In Weare, Omar Haddu found two coins when metal detecting on land owned by John Council on September 4 2019.

These early medieval silver coins are believed to date from between AD985 and 991, and it is rare to find two close together.

The Museum of Somerset in Taunton has expressed an interest in acquiring the coins and the jetton, while King John's Hunting Lodge is also interested in the jetton, which is why an inquest has been held to determine whether the finds are officially treasure or not.

Senior coroner for Somerset Tony Williams conducted the inquest, which heard that the Axbridge find was likely to have been a royal token for Queen Elizabeth of Austria, who was also Dowager Queen of France in 1585.

Such jettons were used to strengthen relationships between families and the royalty, but it is not known how it came to be in Axbridge, possibly lost by an earlier collector.

According to Devon and Somerset finds liaison officer Lucy Burnett, the Weare coins are believed to come from the time of King Athelraed II, who was also known as Ethelred the Unready.

One of the coins was broken, but the finds liaison team say they point to 10th or early 11th century occupation of the site.

To be classed as treasure, a find has to be more than 300 years old and have a rare metals content above 10 per cent, and this was confirmed to be the case with both finds.

Therefore, the inquest was concluded with a ruling that the coins and jetton were treasure, and they will now be valued and, if sold, the money will be split between the finders and the land owners.