Dylan Bettencourt
A lucky couple in the United Kingdom have struck gold. Literally.
The lucky couple uncovered 260 gold coins worth around R5 million during renovations.
The owners of a 18th century home in the UK felt it was the right time to spruce up their kitchen in 2019.
Much to their surprise hundreds of gold coins were found in the wall that will now be sold at a Spink & Son auction next month.
The collectibles company said: “Almost every coin represents the ‘pound piece’ of its day. It is one of the largest hoards of 18th century English gold coins ever found in Britain.”
The coins were found in salt-glazed cups under concrete and floorboards in the home. The cup was “no bigger than a soft-drink can,” a Spink & Son press release said.
The coins dating from 1610 to 1724 have around R2 million worth of spending power in the current terms.
“It is a wonderful and truly unexpected discovery from such an unassuming location,” Gregory Edmund, senior specialist and auctioneer at Spink & Son said in a media release.
“It is an enormous privilege to share in this wonderful find and explore this hoard for the benefit of future generations.”
Edmund added the coins will be available for bidding on 7 October.
The couple who owned the coins, Joseph and Sarah, died in 1725 and 1745 respectively.
“Joseph and Sarah clearly distrusted the newly-formed Bank of England, the idea of the banknote and even the gold coinage of their day because they chose to hold onto so many coins dating to the English Civil War and before,” Edmund said.
Edmund added that the discovery is not mind blowing due to the fact that “they simply reflect the £50 and £100 coins of day-to-day exchange buried and mysteriously never recovered by their wealthy owner.”
Image source: @BusinessInsider
