Milton Keynes Hoard

52.093°N 0.840°E / 52.093; 0.840
In about 1827, a Romano-British hoard of coins, a pair of silver snakeshead bracelets (both inscribed underneath), silver finger ring with carnelian intaglio. Found within a ceramic jar.[4][5]

51.9956°N 0.7080°W / 51.9956; -0.7080

Fenny Stratford coin

Possibly the oldest known gold coin in Britain was found in 1849,[6] here near the site of MAGIOVINIUM, a gold stater of the mid-2nd century BC.[7] The British Museum described it as "a superb example of the Iron Age die-engraver's art".[7]

Bletchley hoards

Although known as the "Bletchley" hoards, two coin hoards were also found at or near the site of MAGIOVINIUM, consisting of silver denarii, in 1967 and 1987.[8][9]

Part of the Stony Stratford Hoard, on display in the British Museum

52.056°N 0.8645°W / 52.056; -0.8645

In 1789, at Windmill Field in the parish of Old Stratford, Northamptonshire (just across the river Great Ouse from Stony Stratford in Milton Keynes), an urn was uncovered that contained between 50 and 60 fragments of silver and gilt bronze plaques.[10] "In addition there are two objects sometimes described as ensigns or head-dresses".[10] The fragments include images of the Roman deities Mars, Apollo, and Victoria and inscriptions ascribed to Jupiter and Vulcan, leading to theories that this was a votive hoard at a Roman temple.[10] The hoard is now kept at the British Museum.[11][12]

Whaddon: 52.000°N 0.828°W / 52.000; -0.828 Little Horwood: 51.968°N 0.850°W / 51.968; -0.850

In 1849, while ploughing land near Whaddon, farm workers discovered a hoard of Iron Age gold staters. The amount found, depending on reports, varies between 450[13] to 800[14] and 2,000,[13] but the lack of precision in quantifying the hoard was because "[t]he discovery attracted many persons to the spot, some of whom contrived to get possession of nearly 100 specimens... About 320 reached the hands of [landowner] Mr Lowndes".[15] It was also poorly recorded in the first instance.[13]

In December 2006, in Little Horwood, three metal detectorists found 73 staters, dated from 60 to 50 BC,[13] of the type that had come to be known as the Whaddon Chase type.[16] Ian Leins, from the British Museum Department of Coins and Medals, stated in the 2005–06 Treasure Annual Report that the proximity to the Whaddon Chase find spot and the type found made it "likely" that this find "represent[s] part of the original hoard that remained undiscovered in 1849." The 2006 staters were valued at a total of £25,000[13][lower-alpha 2] and are now in Buckinghamshire County Museum.[16]

The 2006 staters were discovered by Andrew and Edward Clarkson, and Gordon Heritage – coincidentally one of the discoverers of the Monkston Bronze Age gold hoard. In October 2007, the three men found a further two staters in the same area, also deemed to be part of the original 1849 hoard.[17]

The Whaddon Chase hoard remains the largest of its kind, with only the discovery of the Wickham Market Hoard in 2008 – where 840 gold staters were uncovered in Suffolk – coming close thereafter.[18]

52.160°N 0.755°W / 52.160; -0.755

On New Year's Eve, 1858 near Weston Underwood, an earthenware vessel was found in Whites Close. It contained 166 denarii from the 1st and 2nd century AD, 4 legionary coins, 1 brass coin, an Augustus from 42 BC and 4 of Mark Antony from 30 BC. Also found was a complete 2nd century Samian bowl and other pieces of pottery, including many broken sherds, and even human and horse bones. The Samian bowl now resides at Buckinghamshire County Museum.[19]

52.0646°N 0.7978°W / 52.0646; -0.7978

In 1879, at New Bradwell, a Bronze Age hoard of weapons was found in a "deep cist filled with black earth" where nowadays stands the County Arms Hotel. The hoard comprised nine socketed axes, three broken axes, one palstave, two Spearheads and a leaf-shaped sword which had broken into four pieces. The collection now resides at Aylesbury Museum.[20]

51.996°N 0.7102°W / 51.996; -0.7102

In July 1962, a Romano-British hoard of coins was found in Little Brickhill (just south of Milton Keynes), in very close proximity to Watling Street. It consisted of 251 loose coins and an estimated 400 more which were corroded and had become somewhat amalgamated. The coins, dated 360–365, are now in the possession of the Bletchley Archaeological Society.

Two years later, excavation work nearby uncovered a stone and timber building. The building had been destroyed by fire and 4th century pottery was found on a cobbled floor, along with various sherds from the 4th and 11th to 12th centuries, remnants of a 13th-century jug, glass and jet beads, and around 43 coins from Tetricus I (270–273) to Gratian (375–383). The excavation also revealed the burial place of at least 44 people.[21]

51.9923°N 0.7001°W / 51.9923; -0.7001

On 20 May 1967, at a site not far from the 1962–1964 Little Brickhill finds, a mechanical digger uncovered a hoard of 296 denarii from the 1st to 2nd century. Hearth tools, pottery, and a fragment of whetstone were also found. Five of the coins are now at the British Museum and the remainder are at the Buckinghamshire County Museum.

After excavation, more finds included a bronze brooch and terret ring. The wider implications of the excavation were that it was discovered that occupation of the area had passed through five phases from the 1st to 4th century of the Romano-British empire.

627 coins were found in 1987 which were ascertained to be from the same hoard.[22]

52.0198°N 0.7117°W / 52.0198; -0.7117

In 1987, metal detectorists found 97 bronze coins spanning 307–317 at a Walton building site. It was speculated that this was not the entire sum of the hoard.[23]

The Lenborough Hoard of 5,251 eleventh century coins was found at Lenborough, near Padbury (13 miles (21 km) west of Milton Keynes) on 21 December 2014. Stored in a lead bucket, the hoard included coins of Æthelred the Unready and Canute[24]