At just 8 years old, Valentine is probably the youngest treasure seeker ever to donate a historical find to Halesworth & District Museum.
The object in question is a Tudor coin – most likely a penny, though perhaps a clipped half groat – unearthed by Valentine while out metal detecting with his father. He recalls what happened that day: “I heard a loud beep, and there was the coin, just 5–10cm under the soil.”
He and his family contacted the Museum to help identify the find and several other objects they have unearthed recently while metal detecting.
And Valentine quickly decided that he would donate the coin: “I want it to be on display, where people can see it,” he explains. “And the Halesworth Museum is a great place.”
The coin will soon be added to the cabinet containing Tudor artefacts.
Valentine will not be the only treasure seeker to contribute to the Museum’s displays in 2023. In September, local detectorist David Steadman will lend a selection of his finds, including items from the Roman settlement at Wenhaston, a village just outside Halesworth.
As always, Halesworth & District Museum is delighted to engage with local history enthusiasts, including young people like Valentine.
Find out more information about visiting on the Halesworth & District Museum website.