Viking-Hiberno Manx Treasure

News from the Celtic League:

The CDN web site has this story about the discovery of rare ancient coins with a Manx link in Co Down:

"Brian Morton, (43), did not immediately realise the significance of his discovery on farmland near Newcastle in Co Down but was convinced he had struck upon something special in May.

"I didn't know what they were at the time. But through time I got to know they were two extremely rare Hibernian-Manx coins.

"I was quite excited to say the least," he said.

A treasure inquest in Belfast heard the discovery of the Hiberno-Manx silver coins was a first for Northern Ireland, with less than a handful found anywhere in Ireland during the past four decades.

They were mainly circulated in the Isle of Man during the eleventh century and are 93 per cent silver.

They were found under about 10cm of mud about 1.5m apart".

Full details at this link which also has a link to the original Irish News article;

https://www.facebook.com/crowndependencypoliticalnews/posts/1273156946038676

Image: An extremely rare Viking Hiberno-Manx silver coin found on farmland near Newcastle in Co Down, as it has been declared as treasure at an inquest in Belfast's Laganside House.

BERNARD MOFFATT
Public Relations Officer Mannin Branch

Issued by: The Mannin branch of the Celtic League.

29/11/16