Details

COLEM:1903.505

Colchester Collections

The Colchester Hoard 1902

1,663 silver pennies of Henry II and Henry III from the 1902 Colchester Hoard. One interpretation, that was originally included in the display at Colchester Castle, was that it was believed to have been buried in the Jewish quarter of the Medieval town, possibly belonging to a Jewish money lender. However, the hoard was found just outside the Jewish Quarter and there is no definitive evidence that the person who owned or looked after the hoard was from the Jewish community. It may well have belonged to a money lender, but their faith and culture are impossible to determine from the find alone. The closest evidence for a Jewish connection that we know is that the hoard was deposited in the late 1200s, which is when the edict of expulsion forced the Jewish people of England to leave the country. However, it could quite as easily have been left by a money lender of any other faith. A hoard of silver short-cross pennies excavated in 1902. It was found in the garden behind the London and Country bank at 25 High Street in Colchester. The hoard was found buried in a lead container. The most reasonable interpretation is that this is a collection of coins from the period of conversion from long cross to short cross pennies. In the days before banks, officials would have been stationed across the country to facilitate individuals exchanging their old currency for new. The reason why these coins were buried and never recovered is still unknown, though person the individual responsible hid the coins intentionally but was made unable to collect them.

1154 - 1237

Medieval

In Store