Two 16th century silver pins discovered just miles apart

TWO silver pins – probably made in the same workshop about 500 years ago – were discovered seven miles apart in South Gloucestershire by metal detector enthusiasts.

The finds, which date back to Tudor times, were made on farmland in Tytherington and Aust by metal detectorists within four months of each other.

At an inquest where the pins were officially declared treasure yesterday, Avon's assistant deputy coroner Terry Moore said it was a "tremendous coincidence" the items had been found within such a short time of each other.

The pins, which are thought to be worth hundreds of pounds and contain 10 per cent precious metal, will now be valued by the British Museum. It is expected that they will be bought by the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

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Ian Achurch, 73, from Frampton Cotterell, discovered one of the silver gilt dress pins on farmland in Tytherington in June last year.

The pin, which is bent, dates from the 16th century and has an ornate hollow spherical pinhead. It would have been used to secure clothing or hair.

Mr Achurch, a member of the Severn Vale Historical Research and Detecting Society, said: "I was very pleased when I found it. It came out the ground as it is now. It hasn't had to be cleaned up or anything. It wasn't tarnished. It's one of the most interesting things I've found."

The other pin, which was missing its shaft and was made up only of a head, was discovered in Aust in March last year.

Mr Moore said: "These two look to be very, very similar and were probably made by the same person. It's a tremendous coincidence for them to turn up 500 years later in the same court."

Also declared treasure at the inquest at Flax Bourton Coroner's Court were two Bronze Age palstave axes and a hammer head.

The hoard was discovered by Jonathan Talbot, 32, on farmland in Wrington in July last year.

Mr Talbot, from Wrington, said: "I doubt I will find anything that old again. I was shocked when I found them because I wasn't expecting it.

"I first thought it was iron. The hoard dates back from between 1,150BC and 1,350BC."

The hoard, which could be worth about £1,000, is likely to be purchased by the Museum of Somerset in Taunton.