MEDIEVAL coins discovered by metal detectorists in Bronington in 2018 have been officially labelled as treasure by a coroner.

The coins were part of six treasure finds dating from the Bronze Age to post-medieval periods declared on Friday, February 4 by John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central).

The objects, all discovered by metal detectorists, included a Bronze Age hoard, three medieval coin groups, a post-medieval bodkin and seal matrix.

A medieval coin association of nine silver coins was discovered in Bronington, outside Whitchurch by detectorists Marc Boulton, Michael Evans and Michael Burt on December 16, 2018.

These medieval pennies and cut halfpennies were all minted between 1247 and 1265 during the reign of Henry III.

The two cut halfpennies suggest that the entire group was the contents of a purse, lost or possibly intentionally hidden and were never recovered.

Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives has expressed interest in acquiring the coins for its collection, following their independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee.

Alastair Willis, senior curator of Numismatics and the Welsh Economy at National Museum Wales, gave more details to the find.

He said: "At eight pence, the contents of this purse may have amounted to roughly three days’ pay for a skilled tradesman.

"The 13th century saw the widespread use of coins both in England and along the north and south coasts of Wales and in the Welsh Marches.

"The contents of purses give us important information about individuals’ wealth and improves our understanding of the local economy.

"This is one of several medieval treasure finds reported from Bronington, including a coin hoard dating to the 15th century."

A silver seal matrix with a crowned heart motif was found by Mr Boulton while metal-detecting in Llanynys Community, Denbighshire on May 19, 2021.

According to Sian Iles, curator of Medieval and Later Archaeology, National Museum Wales, the matrix dates to the late 17th or very early 18th century.

She said: “Personal seal matrices used to authenticate and seal documents, were popular in the post-medieval period.

"The increasing number of matrices recorded through the Treasure Act 1996 contribute considerably to our understanding of beliefs and fashions of people in post-medieval Wales.

"Crowned bleeding-heart motifs and associated designs are seen to represent marital fidelity and love, and in some contexts religious and political (Royalist) beliefs.”