In Hampshire, England, over 70 Tudor-era (1485-1603) gold coins discovered in a residential garden have been sold at auction for approximately 900 million won. According to the BBC and other sources on the 6th, a family living near Milford-on-Sea in Hampshire discovered 63 gold coins and one silver coin in the mud while tidying up their garden in April 2020.
Subsequently, the British Museum evaluated these coins and designated them as treasure. In October 2021, an additional archaeological excavation in the garden uncovered six more gold coins, bringing the total to 70 coins discovered in the family’s garden.
The coins included some minted during Henry VI’s reign in the 1420s and others minted during Henry VIII’s reign from 1536 to 1537. Some coins were inscribed with the initials of Henry VIII’s two wives, Catherine of Aragon and Jane Seymour. It is believed that a wealthy clergyman buried these coins in the 1530s to keep them safe during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries and Catholic convents.
On November 5, the coins were sold in five lots at an auction in Zurich, Switzerland, for a total of 381,407 pounds (approximately 732 million won). Including fees, the final hammer price was 467,215 pounds (approximately 897 million won), far exceeding the expected price of 230,000 pounds (approximately 441 million won).
Auctioneer David Guest commented, “The remarkable coins were sold to bidders from around the world, surpassing my expectations.” Guest further explained that the coins appeared to have been saved over an extended period, with the total amount around 26 pounds, comparable to the price of a house at that time, making it a substantial fortune. He speculated that very few people in England at the time would have seen gold coins.
He added, “The family who discovered them is extremely happy and overwhelmed. It’s been an incredible journey for them, like winning the lottery.” It was also noted that the family plans to use some of the proceeds to buy a pool table and go on vacation.