Middleham Hoard

The Middleham Hoard is a collection of approximately 5000 silver coins distributed across three ceramic pots and discovered through metal detection in a park. The coins span the English Civil War period and show a mix of English, Spanish, Scottish, and Irish coins.

The hoard was buried in the 1640s during the English Civil War and contains coins from the period of kings Edward VI through Charles I. Such hidden collections often formed when people concealed their valuables to protect them from conflict.

The coins come from different countries and show how England had financial connections to other regions in the 17th century. This variety reflects the international trade links of that time.

The museum in York displays selected pieces from the collection that you can view and examine. If you are interested in the history of money and daily life from that period, you will find good examples here.

Among the coins are approximately 39 counterfeits, showing that people attempted to create fake currency even back then. These forged coins reveal the practical challenges of money exchange during the Civil War.

Location: Middleham

GPS coordinates: 54.27970,-1.84000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:23