One of the most important Norman Conquest-era coin hoards ever found is moving back into the spotlight, with plans now confirmed for major public exhibitions in southwest England.
The Chew Valley Hoard, discovered in 2019 by metal detectorists, takes its name from Chew Valley, a historic rural area in Somerset known for its rolling farmland and located just south of the city of Bath. Bath itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest England, recognized for its Roman-built baths, Georgian architecture and long record of archaeological discovery. The hoard was found in a field near the northern end of Chew Valley, roughly 12 kilometres from Bath, which is why researchers adopted the geographical name for the find.
Comprising 2,584 silver pennies buried in the turbulent years immediately following the Norman Conquest, the hoard includes coins struck around 1066–68 featuring Harold II, William the Conqueror and, in at least one case, Edward the Confessor. With issues from 46 different English mints represented, the hoard offers an unusually wide snapshot of medieval circulation and mint activity.
Valued at about £4.3 million (approximately CAD $7.3 million), the hoard has been described as the highest-value treasure find recorded under the United Kingdom’s Treasure Act. It was formally acquired for the nation in 2024 by the South West Heritage Trust, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other cultural organizations. A follow-up grant is now funding new public programming and exhibition infrastructure.
Under current plans, the Chew Valley Hoard will go on display at the Roman Baths Museum in Bath beginning in early 2027. After this temporary showing, the coins will move to the Museum of Somerset in Taunton, where a new interactive gallery is being created to house the hoard permanently. The project will also include educational programming, community outreach and travelling displays designed to broaden public engagement.
Curators see the hoard as a compelling way to tell the story of the Norman takeover and its aftermath. While many know the date 1066 and the Battle of Hastings, fewer appreciate the years of unrest that followed, especially in the southwest where resistance to Norman authority remained strong. The coins, likely buried for safekeeping during this period of instability, provide direct evidence of the political, monetary and military turbulence of the era.
For Canadian collectors, the Chew Valley Hoard underscores the continuing value of archaeological discoveries in deepening our understanding of early monetary systems. When the Bath and Taunton exhibitions open, numismatists visiting the United Kingdom will have a rare opportunity to study a thousand-year-old hoard that combines historical context, minting diversity and exceptional preservation, all within one landmark collection.