“CROCK OF GOLD”

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1940, Page 6

“CROCK OF GOLD”

GARDENER DUG UP A FORTUNE. i 1 Not at the rainbow’s end but right in his own garden at Chantry Cott tages, Bredgar, Kent, Mr Harry Baker ■ has come upon the crock of gold. And ■ he was not treasure hunting when he 1 made his find, but simply tending his ’ vegetable plot. The value of the coins may be several thousand pounds. Mr Baker was Wdrking close to a ’ wall of the cottage, which was once ! part of a monastery. Suddenly 1 he turned up an earthernware crock. He 1 picked it up to throw' away and a 1 stream of gold fell at his feet. There ■ were 1000 coins, which have since been identified as nobles, half-nobles and quarter-nobles of the reign of Edward 111, 1344. - ••• ;

Mr H. Mattingly, Assistant Keeper of the coins and medals department, British Museum, told a “News' 1 Chronicle” • reporter that he had exam.in.ed eight of the nobles. ’ “The nobles are worth about £5 : each, and the half and quarter nobles j less, according to their gold content,” he said; - ’ 11 ’ ! c-'.- -

“This type of coin is believed to ; have been struck to commemorate the navaLvictory of Sluys, and it bears a Latin inscription which was believed ■ to have been a charm against thieves,” stated Mr B. Cattermole, a coin expert of' Sittingbourne, who examined the’ coins. ' • "■■ ■ 1 ’ ' >•"' y Mr Baker, a tractor driver employed by the Kent County Council, said: “I set out to dp some gardening, but was so excited at my discovery that I soon gave up. I never thought my garden would yield a crock of gold.” r •” JVIr Baker’s find, as treasure trove, has been reported to the coroner and an inquest will be held. By the law of treasure trove objects of gold and silver found hidden in the soil or buildings, and 'of which the original owner cannot be found, are Crown property? ; If, however, - the finder promptlyreports them he - receives the full filar- 1 ket value if they are retained by the Crown, or a museum, if ’they are hot so retained he will receive the objects themselves or the British Museum w,ill be prepared to sell them for him. Two years ago a neighbour of Mr Baker’s in Chantry .Cottages l fell through the ground into a 200 ft deep hole outside his back door and it was over two months before his body could be recovered and the hole filled and sealed. '