In a rain-soaked field in Caerhun, Conwy Valley, two novice metal detectorists, David Moss, 34, and Tom Taylor, 35, stumbled upon a discovery that would rewrite their lives and unearth a hidden chapter of Wales’ ancient history. What began as a muddy, unassuming day of hobbyist treasure hunting turned into the find of a lifetime: a staggering hoard of 2,733 Roman coins, dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, worth tens of thousands of pounds.
David, an agricultural goods supplier from near Liverpool, and Tom, an electrician from Stockton-on-Tees, were new to metal detecting. Having only tried their luck on beaches a month prior, this was their first venture onto farmland. The rain was relentless, and David was ready to call it quits when his detector pinged a deep signal. Digging 12 inches into the muck, he uncovered the rim of a ceramic vessel. “I wasn’t sure what I’d found,” David recalled, “but Tom took one look and said, ‘Oh my God, they’re Roman coins!’”
Tom, a devoted fan of the archaeology TV show Time Team, knew exactly what to do. With official permission from the finds liaison officer, the pair meticulously excavated the pot, wrapping it in bandages to preserve it, just as Tom had seen on his favorite program. Their careful work paid off: CT scans later revealed the vessel was brimming with ancient silver and copper-alloy coins, a treasure trove from a forgotten era.
The hoard, now declared treasure by Kate Robertson, assistant coroner for North Wales, is a time capsule of Roman Britain. Most coins date to the reigns of Postumus (AD 260–269) and Victorinus (AD 269–271), but the vessel also held silver Denarii from as early as 69–150 AD, struck over a century before. Experts believe the coins were likely buried in the 220s AD, possibly by a Roman soldier as a votive offering near a temple excavated a decade ago at the site. The proximity to the Roman fort of Canovium suggests the coins may have belonged to soldiers stationed there, left as a sacred gift or hidden for safekeeping under the temple’s divine protection.
“It’s incredible to think these coins were buried for nearly two millennia,” said Alastair Willis, senior curator of Numismatics and the Welsh Economy. “The discovery supports the idea that this site held religious significance, likely tied to the temple uncovered in 2013.” The hoard wasn’t just a pile of coins; some were found in bags made of delicate leather, with traces of stitching preserved—an exceptionally rare find, according to Louise Mumford, senior conservator at the Museum of Wales. “Organic materials like this almost never survive in soil,” she noted. “These fragments tell us about the craftsmanship of the time.”
For David and Tom, the discovery is about more than potential riches. “We’re history hunters, not treasure hunters,” David insisted. “Some detectorists never find a single Roman coin in their lifetime, and here we are with a hoard. It’s unreal.” The coins will soon travel to London for valuation, with proceeds to be split between the finders and the landowner. Meanwhile, Llandudno Museum, with support from Conwy Culture Centre and the Museum of Wales, is eager to acquire the hoard to display alongside other artifacts from Kanovium Roman Fort.
“This is a game-changer for us,” said Dawn Lancaster, director of Llandudno Museum. “These coins, spanning 50 rulers from 32 BC, tell a story of Wales’ Roman past. They belong here, where future generations can connect with our cultural heritage.”