A family in southern England has sold a hoard of Tudor-era gold coins for the equivalent of about $490,000 after uncovering the collection while gardening during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The find, now known as the New Forest Hoard, was discovered in April 2020 near the coastal village of Milford on Sea in Hampshire.
While planting a flowerbed next to a fence, the family lifted a lump of “clayey soil” and spotted thin discs. When their teenage son ran water over the lump, they realised the discs were gold coins. The initial count was 63 gold coins and one silver coin.
Archaeologists uncover more coins
The coins were reported via the Portable Antiquities Scheme and examined by the British Museum, where experts confirmed their status as treasure in October 2021. Archaeologists then carried out a full excavation of the garden and recovered six more gold coins, bringing the total to 70.
All the coins date to the Tudor period, making the hoard one of the most significant finds of its kind in the region.
Examining the coins and their context
The hoard spans reigns from Henry VI (1420s) to Henry VIII (1536–37). Coins also include issues from Edward IV and Henry VII. Several of the Henry VIII pieces bear the initials of his wives — Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour — a rare numismatic feature.
Experts believe the coins were likely buried in the late 1530s, perhaps during the turmoil of the English Reformation and the dissolution of monasteries. When buried, the hoard’s value would have been equivalent to the purchase of a modest rural property in the 16th century.
Auction exceeds expectations
The coins were initially expected to fetch around $300,000. However, the auction, held in Zurich on Wednesday evening, drew strong interest from across the globe. Auctioneer David Guest sold the collection in small groups rather than as a single lot, helping to push the hammer price to 403,100 Swiss francs — just over £380,000, or roughly $490,000.
A couple in southern England 🏴🇬🇧 were working in their garden, adjusting a fence post. As they dug into the clay soil near their flower bed, they hit something unexpected—a handful of small, round objects. At first, they looked like bits of old metal. Then the mud came off, and… pic.twitter.com/DwkdH3k6h2
— ArchaeoHistories (@histories_arch) November 5, 2025
The guest said the “stunning” coins drew bidders from around the world and “far exceeded” his expectations. He described the family as “over the moon” and still amazed that a patch of garden soil led to such a return.
The museum unable to acquire the hoard during lockdown
The British Museum had first right of refusal under the treasure protocol but was unable to acquire the hoard, largely due to financial constraints during the pandemic. Once the legal process was complete, the coins were returned to the family, allowing them to sell the collection.
A rare glimpse into Tudor wealth
Historians say the hoard offers a valuable snapshot of England’s economy in the early 16th century, when gold coinage circulated mainly among the wealthy elite. The presence of initials belonging to Henry VIII’s wives gives the coins additional historical and numismatic significance.
Why the coins were buried remains unknown, though experts note that many treasures were hidden during periods of upheaval. What began as routine gardening has turned into a rare archaeological discovery — and a life-changing windfall for the family who found it.
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