St Nicholas Street Coin Hoard

Acquisition of coin hoard found during the construction of the St Nicholas Centre in Aberdeen. Workmen found two locally made pottery jugs containing around 7000 silver pennies. This is one of the hoards dating to the 13th to 14th century. The group of 14th-century coin hoards found in Aberdeen city centre is unparalleled in Britain and may even be unequalled in the whole of western Europe. Coins were buried because during the medieval period there were no banks, and the hiding of money in this way kept it safe. When the owner did not return to collect the money, it remained safe until the ground was disturbed, in this case 640 years later. The hoard included silver pennies from the reigns of Edward I (1272-1307), Alexander III (1249-86) and Robert the Bruce (1306-29). The coins were declared treasure trove.