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| Reward wait after Roman coin find | Reward wait after Roman coin find |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A metal detector enthusiast who discovered a treasure trove of nearly 600 Roman coins in a field is waiting to hear how much he will receive. | A metal detector enthusiast who discovered a treasure trove of nearly 600 Roman coins in a field is waiting to hear how much he will receive. |
| After four hours' digging near Newport, Brian Stephens found 587 silver denarii dating back some 2,000 years. | After four hours' digging near Newport, Brian Stephens found 587 silver denarii dating back some 2,000 years. |
| Fragments of a pottery container were also found nearby. The haul has been declared treasure and will be held at the National Museum Wales in Cardiff. | Fragments of a pottery container were also found nearby. The haul has been declared treasure and will be held at the National Museum Wales in Cardiff. |
| Mr Stephens, 45, will have to share his reward with the owner of the field. | Mr Stephens, 45, will have to share his reward with the owner of the field. |
| At the treasure trove hearing, Gwent coroner David Bowen described it as "a particularly significant find," and the small coins were showing little wear. | At the treasure trove hearing, Gwent coroner David Bowen described it as "a particularly significant find," and the small coins were showing little wear. |
| I was a bit excited to say the least Brian Stephens | I was a bit excited to say the least Brian Stephens |
| The total haul at Llanvaches eventually comprised 599 silver denarii, buried in the years around AD160. | The total haul at Llanvaches eventually comprised 599 silver denarii, buried in the years around AD160. |
| Speaking after the hearing, Mr Stephens, a metal detector enthusiast of 25 years, said he had never found anything as significant before. | |
| "I knew what it was straight away," he said. It took about four hours to get out because the ground was so hard." | "I knew what it was straight away," he said. It took about four hours to get out because the ground was so hard." |
| He said the coins showed various Roman leaders, including Nero and Marcus Aurelius. | He said the coins showed various Roman leaders, including Nero and Marcus Aurelius. |
| "We found 587 but then we found another 12. I was a bit excited to say the least. | "We found 587 but then we found another 12. I was a bit excited to say the least. |
| "I couldn't believe that had been buried for 2,000 years. | "I couldn't believe that had been buried for 2,000 years. |
| Two years' wages | Two years' wages |
| "They were only about 4in (10cm) below. I found one and then another and then there was a whole lump of them," he added. | "They were only about 4in (10cm) below. I found one and then another and then there was a whole lump of them," he added. |
| Edward Besly, a numismatist at the museum, said: "Llanvaches lies between the fortress of the second Augustan legion at Caerleon and the local tribal capital, Venta Silurum, at Caerwent. | Edward Besly, a numismatist at the museum, said: "Llanvaches lies between the fortress of the second Augustan legion at Caerleon and the local tribal capital, Venta Silurum, at Caerwent. |
| "At the time, these coins would have represented about two years' wages for a legionary soldier - and would have taken much longer to save. | "At the time, these coins would have represented about two years' wages for a legionary soldier - and would have taken much longer to save. |
| "Whether the life savings of a retired soldier who settled locally, or the proceeds of commerce relating to Caerleon or Caerwent, the Llanvaches find represents a considerable sum of money and is one of the largest 2nd Century silver coin hoards recorded from Roman Britain." | "Whether the life savings of a retired soldier who settled locally, or the proceeds of commerce relating to Caerleon or Caerwent, the Llanvaches find represents a considerable sum of money and is one of the largest 2nd Century silver coin hoards recorded from Roman Britain." |
| But Mr Stephens will have to wait to discover the value of the coins. They will be assessed by experts before he finds out how much reward he will receive. | But Mr Stephens will have to wait to discover the value of the coins. They will be assessed by experts before he finds out how much reward he will receive. |
| "What happens is that the hoard will now go for valuation by an independent committee which establishes what it regards as a fair market value and that's the basis of the reward," said Mr Besley. | "What happens is that the hoard will now go for valuation by an independent committee which establishes what it regards as a fair market value and that's the basis of the reward," said Mr Besley. |