News release
For immediate release
7 January 2025
Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum
Saturday 11 January – Sunday 30 March 2025
The Worcestershire Conquest Hoard is one of the largest early Roman coin hoards ever found in Britain. It contains 1368 gold and silver coins, produced from the time of the Roman Republic (circa 509–27 BC) up to the reign of the emperor Nero (AD 54–68). This Saturday 11 January visitors will have the first opportunity to see the Hoard together, in all its glory, when it goes on temporary display at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum until 30 March 2025.
The exhibition explores the context and significance of the Hoard in relation to this tumultuous period of British history. Its burial date of circa AD 55 places it right at the beginning of Roman Britain.
Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums charity recently launched a fundraising campaign to save the Worcestershire Conquest Hoard for the County, to make sure it can be seen and enjoyed by residents for years to come. Excitement around the discovery was such that the initial target of £6,000 was met within forty-eight hours of the campaign going live. With the Hoard expected to be valued upwards of £100,000, fundraising continues towards both acquisition and permanent display and interpretation. If the money cannot be raised, the Hoard will be returned to its finders and/or the landowner and would be unlikely to ever be seen again on public display.
Dr Murray Andrews, Lecturer in British Archaeology, UCL Institute of Archaeology and advisor on The Worcestershire Conquest Hoard says: “The Conquest Hoard is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Worcestershire in the last 100 years.”
Museums Worcestershire’s Senior Curator Deborah Fox says “The Worcestershire Conquest Hoard is an incredible find and plays an important part in understanding more about the county’s heritage. We are really pleased to put it on temporary display and are sure visitors will love to see this incredible piece of Worcestershire’s history which has been buried beneath our feet for 2,000 years.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation to help keep the Conquest Hoard in Worcestershire, can do so online at www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk or via the donation station in the exhibition. All donations will go towards saving this important Hoard for the people of Worcestershire and enabling it to go on permanent display.
The Worcestershire Conquest Hoard is on show at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum from 11 January – 30 March. The Art Gallery and Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm and Sunday 10am – 3pm. Entry is free.
Visitors to the exhibition at the Art Gallery & Museum should be aware that there will be no lift access to the first floor due to work currently taking place to upgrade the lift. This is part of developments over the next three years to improve facilities for all visitors. For more information please see www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk
ENDS
7 January 2025
Notes to Editors
The Hoard is pending consideration by the independent Treasure Valuation Committee, who will recommend a value for it to the Secretary of State. In order to acquire the hoard, Museums Worcestershire is responsible for raising that money, which will be used to fund the reward for the finders and landowner.
For further information or to arrange interviews / photographs please email Helen Large, Museum Audience Manager, Museums Worcestershire: Helen.Large@worcester.gov.uk
An image of a selection of the coins is attached for your use, image courtesy Museums Worcestershire.