Skip to content

Denbighshire: Rings and 17th Century coins declared treasure

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales round gold ring, broken on one side, with a groove patternAmgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales
This fragment of a gold lock ring from 1000-800 BC was found in a field at Holt in Wrexham

A medieval gold ring, 17th Century silver coins and the fragment of a Bronze Age ring found in north Wales have been declared treasure.

An inquest at Ruthin in Denbighshire found items uncovered at eight sites met the treasure criteria.

Several museums have expressed an interest in acquiring the items for their collections.

Two 17th Century coins and a gold engraved ring will be returned to their finders after no museum interest.

Kate Sutherland, assistant coroner for north Wales east and central, ruled the items met the treasure criteria of being more than 300 years old and containing at least 10% precious metals during the hearing.

The oldest item was the fragment of a gold lock ring from 1000-800 BC found by metal detectorist Chris Wood in a field at Holt in Wrexham.

It is only the seventh lock ring found in Wales from five locations. The National Museum of Wales has registered interest in acquiring the treasure.

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales Pattern on a silver belt buckleAmgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales
This medieval silver buckle plate was found at Henryd in Conwy

A medieval silver buckle plate was found wrapped around half a silver coin by Ian Cox on his land at Henryd in, Conwy.

The Conwy Culture Centre wanted to add these items to its collections.

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales Gold ring with an inscription insideAmgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales
This gold "posy ring" from 1680-1720 was found at Esclusham in Wrexham

A post-medieval gold posy ring was found at a metal detectorist rally in Esclusham in Wrexham in June 2021.

Bearing the inscription "God's providence is our inheritance", it is thought to be from 1680-1720.

PAS Cymru A medieval silver ring fragment (Treasure Case 22.39), discovered by Jamie Larkin on 10th August 2022 in a field under arable in Llandegla Community, Denbighshire, during a metal-detecting rally. The ring, with repeating incised decoration and panelled design, probably dates to the 15th century. Denbighshire Museums Service has expressed an interest in acquiring the ring for its collection.PAS Cymru
A decorated medieval silver ring was found at Llandegla in Denbighshire

Part of a medieval silver ring was found at Llandegla, Denbighshire, by metal detectorist James Larkin at a rally in August 2022.

Denbighshire museum service is interested in acquiring the ring which is dated to about 1400-1500 and is decorated with lines and cross hatching.

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales two silver coins with worn inscriptions (Two clipped seventeenth century silver coins of James I and Charles I (Treasure Case 20.20), discovered by Mick Brady on 17th October 2020, while metal-detecting on cultivated land in Aberwheeler Community, Denbighshire)Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales
This silver shilling and sixpence from the 17th Century were found at Aberwheeler in Flintshire

A 17th Century silver shilling and sixpence were found by metal detectorist Mick Brady in Aberwheeler, Flintshire, in December 2020.

It is thought the coins could have fallen from a purse.

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales Gold ring band with flower pattern A medieval gold fede ring (Treasure Case 21.14) was discovered by Paul Davis on 12th April 2021 while metal-detecting in a field under pasture in Bronington Community, Wrexham.Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales
This medieval gold finger ring was found in ploughed field at at Bronington in Wrexham

A medieval gold finger ring inscribed with the French phrase "De Bon Coeur" (Of Good Heart) was found by Paul Davies while metal detecting in a ploughed field at Bronington, Wrexham, in April 2021.

It is believed to be a late medieval betrothal ring from the second half of the 15th Century.

Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales A medieval silver terminal fragment (Treasure Case 20.13), discovered by Paul Hughes on 23rd September 2020, while metal-detecting on land under pasture in Trefriw Community, Conwy. This decorative item with an openwork plant and leaves design dates to the 15th century. Conwy Culture Centre has expressed an interest in acquiring this artefact for its collection.Amgueddfa Cymru/National Museum Wales
This medieval silver object, possibly a fitting, was found at Trefriw in Conwy

Wrexham museum has expressed an interest in acquiring it for its collections.