THE largest hoard of Roman coins ever uncovered in Worcestershire was declared as treasure at an inquest yesterday.

The discovery of the coins, thought to be once owned by a Roman soldier, was made on Bredon Hill in the summer by two metal detector enthusiasts and revealed a previously undiscovered Roman site.

The majority of the 3,874 coins, dating from between 244 and 282 AD, were found inside a storage jar of the same period and feature 16 different Roman Emperors.

Deputy coroner Marguerite Elcock called the find ‘significant’ and a reflection of a turbulent period in Britain’s history.

Richard Henry, from the Portable Antiquities Scheme, spoke at yesterday’s inquest. He showed examples of the coins which range from emperor Philip II to emperor Probus and some which had retained a significant amount of detail.

He said: “We believe it will be worth about 11 weeks pay for a soldier in that period.

“This is established through silver content. There is a suggestion it might have been a soldier or someone who had a link to authority or the imperial throne itself. But this is speculation.”

The hoard is nationally significant as it was buried at least 70 years after the last date of the coins.

Metal detectorists Jethro Carpenter and Mark Gilmore, both from Redditch, made the discovery on June 18 on the hill.

Binman and father-of-two Mr Carpenter said the find was a childhood dream. “I have been doing metal detecting for 34 years,” he said. “I put the detector into the hole and it came up with an overload sound. I thought its got to be something fairly big.”

A market valuation of the find will now be set by the British Museum.

Worcestershire County Museum will be given four months to raise the required funding, if it wants to acquire the find for a long-term exhibition in the county.

After the inquest, Mr Gilmore said he had expected the find to be declared as treasure.

He and Mr Carpenter have agreed to share the 50 per cent of the value of the coins which they are entitled to. The landowner where the coins were discovered will be given the other half.

Mr Gilmore said: “I am pleased with the outcome. Now we are waiting to find out the valuation.

“Jethro has said he will share his half of the money with me.”