Sixteenth century coins, Northey Island (EHER 49749)

A watching brief and metal detector survey in 2019 recovered three coins from the reign of Elizabeth I.

August 2019. Watching brief and metal detector survey. The metal detecting survey recovered three Elizabethan coins which were unstratified within the topsoil. The coins were found on consecutive days scattered along the area of the flood bank facing the island side. They represent chance losses. These are everyday items and show the traffic of people to and from Northey throughout the ages. The sea walls may date to 1200 but their first definite record is on the Chapman and André map of 1777. The Elizabethan coins were sixpences of Elizabeth I’s Second Issue and date from 1560s-1570s. The presence of the Elizabethan coins in the topsoil on the landward side of the sea bank could indicate that the structures were in place in the 16th century. Alternatively the coins could have been lost by visitors to the island prior to the construction of the sea defences and simply be re-deposited. <1>