A TREASURE TROVE
The story of tho discovery of a great hoard of old coins was told by Dr. George Macdonald, C.8.,'-at the recent meeting of the Society of Antiquaries of Scbtland. The coins in question numbered 1128, and were found during the excavations for the foundation of a new picture house at Perth last autumn. The coins were claimed as treasure trove on behalf of the King, and were subsequently admitted to tho National Museum of Antiquities. Though badly corroded when discovered, said Mr. Macdonald, the hoard, after treatment at the museum, was found to consist of 18 gold coins, two riders, one half-rider, 14 unicorns of James 111, and a noble of Maximilian and Philip the Fair of Burgundy, dated 1488 ; 611 silver coins, of which 256 were English groats and half groats of tho reign of Edward 111, Henry V, Henry VI, and Edward IV, and 355 Scottish coins, chiefly of groats and f.ialf groats of tlib first four Jameses, and a largo number of placks and half-placks of James 111. It was evident, from the small proportion of coins of James IV, that the hoard must have been deposited shortly after his accession in 1488, and that inference was confirmed by the dated coin of Burgundy. That a. hoard such as this, said Dr Macdonald, which had cleared up so many debatable points regarding tho fifteenth century coins of Scotland, should have been secured practically intact for the nation was extremely fortunate. Had it been dissipated, as so often occurred when finds like this were* made, an interesting sidelight on the history of tho country might have been lost. Five gold coins and 122 of silver and bullion were retained for the National f Museum of Antiquities and tho Royal Scottish Museum. Tho balance of 1001 coins was returned to the finders, who were recompensed for those retained for tho museums.
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Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 306, 20 September 1921, Page 5
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315A TREASURE TROVE Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 306, 20 September 1921, Page 5
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