Dunbeath home for ancient coin hoard
MEDIEVAL coins discovered in Caithness estimated to be more than
800 years old are set to find a new home at the Dunbeath Heritage Centre.
Treasure Trove Scotland accepted a £2210 bid from the museum committee for the 47 coins discovered by Mikie Aitken at Wester in February 2012.
The coins are expected to arrive at the museum later this year.
The discovery sparked national interest when the metal detector enthusiast found coins displaying the heads of Edward I, who was more commonly known as the Hammer of the Scots, and Alexander III of Scotland dating back to 1279.
Heritage centre manager Meg Sinclair said as the coins were found in Caithness, the museum was given priority to bid to the Treasure Trove and was delighted they will be displayed in the far north.
“We were notified that our bid to have the coins displayed at the museum two months ago has been successful,” she said.
“In the past anything valuable that was found usually ended up going to Edinburgh but the Treasure Trove have become more relaxed and are keen to have items displayed at museums in areas where these items are found.
“These coins being displayed at the museum is a real coup for us as I believe it will result in an increase in visitor numbers, greater customer satisfaction and even more to see at the museum where our exhibits date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age.”
Museum Galleries Scotland awarded a grant of £14,000 to the museum to store the coins in display cabinets and for insulation.
It has also refunded half of the £2210 bid as per the regulations of the National Fund for Acquisitions which gives back 50% of the winning bids.
The Treasure Trove takes ownership for any coins found in Scotland before the Victorian era but gave Mr Aitken a reward of £3000, which he split evenly with the farmer on whose land he found the coins.
Since his discovery, Mr Aitken (28), from Killimster, said he has not had time to go searching for other hidden treasures due to his work commitments as a self-employed non-destructive testing supervisor at Subsea 7 at Wester.
However, he is delighted the coins will be coming to home to Caithness for everyone to admire.
“It is a great result the coins will be displayed at Dunbeath and that I was able to share the reward with the farmer on whose land I made the discovery,” he said.
“I’ve not been out in months as I have been kept busy at work but hopefully during a quiet a period I’ll be able to get out there and make discoveries in Caithness from the Viking era.”