Unique treasure of 321 coins found in England (photo)

At the construction site of a nuclear power plant in England, archaeologists have come across a treasure trove of 321 silver coins. The find was wrapped in a cloth and placed in a lead bag, which has remained almost intact.

The coins date from 1036-1044, the early reign of the Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Confessor. It was a turbulent time when the king confiscated property and expelled members of the elite who had lost his favor, Livescience notes.

Some of the coins were produced in rural mints, making them particularly rare. According to Alexander Bliss, a coin expert at Oxford Cotswold Archaeology, the 321 coins represented a considerable fortune for the time - enough to buy about 16 cows.

Bliss suggested that the owner of the treasure might have been afraid of political regime changes or social instability, so he decided to hide his wealth.

Archaeologists note that the found coin treasures from this period (1042-1044) are very rare. The newly discovered treasure is unique in that it has been preserved in its original form, along with a cloth bag and lead wrapper.

In many other cases, such pouches were often damaged by agricultural activities or destroyed during improper excavations.

"The preservation of the pouch is of great importance, as it is part of the overall composition of the treasure. It was also important to understand whether the lead was used accidentally or purposefully for protection," Bliss explained.

Laboratory analysis showed that the lead pouch was made from a folded sheet, which emphasizes the owner's caution in hiding his wealth.

It is likely that the owner of the coins was a middle-class person who had local influence. He might have been afraid of the consequences of political changes after the coronation of Edward the Confessor and decided to secure his funds.

"We were amazed when we unearthed this treasure. It provides invaluable information about that period of history," said Andrew Pegg, an archaeologist at Oxford Cotswold Archaeology.

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