Colchester 1969

MCHBI Ref: ENG0848

Updated: 10-08-2025

Location And Setting

Region: England
County: Essex
Mapped location accuracy: <100 meters

Timing

Deposited: c.1256-c.1270

Discovery

Discovered: 1969
Circumstances: Construction, building work.
Context: Building - Domestic
Feature: Bldg Foundations

Container And Contents

Container: Lead box, casket or chest
Hoard Type: Coins only

Coin Summary

Num. of coins: 14,085
Latest Coin: Class Vc in main hoard, class VI in the "top-up".
Latest Coin Date: 1250 - 1270
Coins issued by: Henry III (S/C cl. 6c2-8c) [6], Henry III - Long Cross [11328], Henry III - Posthumous [1916], William I posthumous (Alex. II) [1], Alexander III [489], Alex. III transitional (short cross) [1], Anglo-Irish: Henry III [292], - Continental Imitations, undiff [32], - Continental Sterling Forgery, undiff. [20]

Other Items

The lead canister was presented to Colchester Museum.

Disposition

Parcels to a number of museums, with the remaining coins split between the two finders. Many of these latter coins appeared in a number of auctions, particularly in 1971/2.

Summary Notes

Hoard of 14,085 long-cross pennies of Henry III found in 1969 in a lead cannister at 22 High Street. The hoard was found buried in a gravel yard and covered with a thin layer of silt. In 1971 the cannister was given by Boots the Chemists to Colchester Museum, at the same time the museum acquired 446 of the pennies. Another coin hoard was found nearby in 1902. This hoard and the 1902 hoard may be associated with the Jews in Colchester. This is the largest Medieval hoard ever recovered intact in Britain; Tutbury was larger but scattered in a river bed. 1916 class 6 coins of Bury were probably added as hoard "top-up" in the late 1260s.

References

Thomas, Bob, (2021), Note on the 1916 Bury St Edmunds class 6 coins from the 1969 Colchester Hoard, BNS Research Blog article (link)
Allen, M., (2005), The Weight Standard of the English Coinage 1158-1279, Numismatic Chronicle vol. 165 pp. 227-233 (link)
Archibald , M. M. and Barrie Cook, 2001. English Medieval Coin Hoards: I. Cross and Crosslets, Short Cross and Long Cross Hoards, (London, 2001).
Dolley, M. et al., (1974), ‘The 1969 Colchester hoard: editorial note’, BNJ vol. 44 pp. 39-40 (link)
Clarke, D. T-D., (1974), The 1969 Colchester Hoard: Discovery and site, BNJ vol. 44 pp. 41-42 (link)
Seaby, W.A., (1974), The 1969 Colchester Hoard: . The Anglo-Irish portion, BNJ vol. 44 pp. 43-47 (link)
Stewart, I., (1974), The 1969 Colchester Hoard: The Scottish element, BNJ vol. 44 pp. 48-61 (link)

Coin Details

Henry III (S/C cl. 6c2-8c)
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Henry III S/C undiff.	Penny	Uncertain	6			Class VI-VIII
Henry III - Long Cross
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Undifferentiated	Penny	London	5			Uncertain ID.
Undifferentiated	Penny	Uncertain	24
Undiff. - w/out sceptre (Classes 1-3)	Penny	Canterbury	10			Class I/II
Undiff. - w/out sceptre (Classes 1-3)	Penny	London	32			Class I/II
Undiff. - with sceptre (Classes 4-7)	Penny	London	1			Class V/VI
Class I undiff.	Penny	Bury St Edmunds	2
Class I undiff.	Penny	Canterbury	21
Class I undiff.	Penny	London	41
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Bury St Edmunds	14	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Canterbury	72	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Exeter	17	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Gloucester	13	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Lincoln	26	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	London	175	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Northampton	10	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Norwich	2	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Oxford	15	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	Winchester	18	1361/61A	985
Class 2 undiff. (2a, 2bi, 2bii)	Penny	York	22	1361/61A	985
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Bristol	118	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Bury St Edmunds	148	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Canterbury	901	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Carlisle	38	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Exeter	148	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Gloucester	201	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Hereford	57	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Ilchester	37	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Lincoln	312	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	London	1813	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Newcastle	126	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Northampton	286	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Norwich	245	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Oxford	200	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Shrewsbury	58	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Wallingford	42	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Wilton	79	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	Winchester	221	1362-64B	986-88
Class 3 undiff.	Penny	York	312	1362-64B	986-88
Class 4 (4a,4ab/4b), now with sceptre.	Penny	Bury St Edmunds	4	1365-66	989-90
Class 4 (4a,4ab/4b), now with sceptre.	Penny	Canterbury	8	1365-66	989-90
Class 4 (4a,4ab/4b), now with sceptre.	Penny	London	24	1365-66	989-90
Class 5 undiff.	Penny	Bury St Edmunds	270	1367-74	991-9	Class Va-e
Class 5 undiff.	Penny	Canterbury	2124	1367-74	991-9	Class Va-e
Class 5 undiff.	Penny	Durham	21	1367-74	991-9	Class Va-e
Class 5 undiff.	Penny	London	3015	1367-74	991-9	class Va-e
Henry III - Posthumous
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Posthumous, class 6	Penny	Bury St Edmunds	1916	1377
William I posthumous (Alex. II)
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Short Cross and Stars coinage Phase B	Penny	Uncertain	1	5029-33
Alexander III
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Transitional Coinage, Short Cross & Stars, Phase E	Penny	Uncertain	1	5039-41
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Aberdeen	26	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Ayr	12	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Berwick	143	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Dun (Dunferline?)	28	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Edinburgh	38	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Forfar	12	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Fres	7	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Glasgow	17	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Inverness	10	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Kinghorn	14	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Lanark	10	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Montrose	1	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Perth	64	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Renfrew	4	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Roxburgh	65	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	St Andrews	17	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Stirling	19	5042-48
First Coinage Long Cross & Stars, types I-VIII	Penny	Uncertain	2	5042-48
Anglo-Irish: Henry III
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Voided Long Cross, Type I (Ia-Id)	Penny	Dublin	73	6235-39
Voided Long Cross, Type II (IIa-IId), Coarser work.	Penny	Dublin	219	6240-43
- Continental Imitations, undiff
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Undiff. Type	Sterling	Unknown	32			Imitation. Contintental and contemporary imitations
- Continental Sterling Forgery, undiff.
Type	Denom.	Mint	# coins	Spink	North	Remarks
Undiff. Type	Sterling	Unknown	20			Forgery. Laminated forgeries

Total number of coins: 14085 Hoard Face Value: 14085d.