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| Piano gold hoard is 'life-changing' sovereign stockpile | Piano gold hoard is 'life-changing' sovereign stockpile |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A hoard of gold discovered hidden inside an old piano has been revealed to be a collection of sovereign coins. | A hoard of gold discovered hidden inside an old piano has been revealed to be a collection of sovereign coins. |
| The discovery was made in Shropshire before Christmas when its new owners had it retuned and repaired. | The discovery was made in Shropshire before Christmas when its new owners had it retuned and repaired. |
| The collection consists of an undisclosed number of full and half sovereigns, dating from 1847 to 1915. | |
| Experts believe the coins may have been "deliberately hidden" and could yield a "life changing" sum of money, with a full sovereign worth at least £220. | |
| More on this story and others from across Shropshire | More on this story and others from across Shropshire |
| An inquest, which will decide whether the discovery can be declared treasure, resumed on Thursday. | |
| Shrewsbury Coroner's Court heard senior coroner John Ellery recount how the piano, made by Broadwood & Sons of London, was initially sold to Messrs Beavan and Mothersole of Saffron Walden, Essex, in 1906. | Shrewsbury Coroner's Court heard senior coroner John Ellery recount how the piano, made by Broadwood & Sons of London, was initially sold to Messrs Beavan and Mothersole of Saffron Walden, Essex, in 1906. |
| But its ownership from then until 1983 - when it was purchased by a family in the area who later moved to Shropshire - is unknown. | But its ownership from then until 1983 - when it was purchased by a family in the area who later moved to Shropshire - is unknown. |
| The coroner is now seeking information about its whereabouts between 1906 and 1983. | The coroner is now seeking information about its whereabouts between 1906 and 1983. |
| Mr Ellery deferred the conclusion of the inquest to allow for more time for anyone with information about the piano from the Essex area to come forward. | Mr Ellery deferred the conclusion of the inquest to allow for more time for anyone with information about the piano from the Essex area to come forward. |
| The hoard was initially reported to Peter Reavill, Finds Liaison Officer for the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme at Shropshire Museums. | The hoard was initially reported to Peter Reavill, Finds Liaison Officer for the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme at Shropshire Museums. |
| While not declaring the true value of the coins, he said it has "the potential of yielding a life changing sum of money." | While not declaring the true value of the coins, he said it has "the potential of yielding a life changing sum of money." |
| "It's not the sort of money you would tuck away and forget," he said. "It is lifetime of savings and its beyond most people," Mr Reavill added. | "It's not the sort of money you would tuck away and forget," he said. "It is lifetime of savings and its beyond most people," Mr Reavill added. |
| Alexandra Whittaker, of auctioneers Fellows & Son, said a full sovereign with a 22-carat weight, would be worth around £220, with a half worth £113. | |
| "But if one was particularly special, like if it had something wrong with it, or there were fewer minted that year, then it would be worth a lot more," she added. | |
| The objects will qualify as treasure and be the property of the Crown if the coroner finds they have been hidden with the intent of future recovery. | The objects will qualify as treasure and be the property of the Crown if the coroner finds they have been hidden with the intent of future recovery. |
| However, if the original owner or their heirs can establish their title to the find, the Crown's claim will be void. | However, if the original owner or their heirs can establish their title to the find, the Crown's claim will be void. |
| The inquest will resume and conclude on 20 April. | The inquest will resume and conclude on 20 April. |