SEVEN coins that were found near a small village in Buckinghamshire have been declared as treasure.

Mark Baker was using a metal detector, with the landowner's permission, in a parish near Mursley in February last year when he found the coins.

The coins, which are Roman, are a mixture of silver and copper.

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At a treasure inquest on Wednesday (August 30) at Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court, assistant coroner Alison McCormick declared that the coins are treasure and it will be up to the Treasure Valuation Committee to decide on if a reward will be given and how much it will be.

The inquest heard that after finding the coins, they were sent to the British Museum to be expertly analysed by Edwin Wood, an archaeology officer.

Three of the Roman coins, which were silver, were discovered to be denarius, an ancient Roman silver coin, originally worth ten asses.

They were all of the Hadrian era, with coin one being minted between AD 121 and 123, coin two being minted between AD 130 and 133, and coin three being minted in AD 130.

Of the copper coins, two were under the Titus era, one being minted between A D77 and 78, and the second being possibly minted between AD 80 and 81.

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A third copper coin was from the Tragen area and was minted between AD 103 and 111 and the fourth was from the Antoninus Pius, minted between AD 154 and 155.

Mr Wood suggested that, despite the coins being found in close proximity to each other, that the silver coins had not been in circulation for very long but the copper coins may have had a longer circulation period.

Ms McCormick said: “Both the age of the coins, which are Roman, and the precious metal content meet the criteria for treasure under the Treasure Act 1996.

“I’m content to accept the findings of Mr Wood. I accept the findings about the history of these coins and also their compositions and on that basis I can declare this is a treasure find.”

She added that the coins will now be sent to the Treasure Valuation Committee who will decide if a reward, and how much, will be offered for the coins.

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Ms McCormick added that Discover Bucks Museum, in Church Street, Aylesbury, has expressed an interest in acquiring and displaying the coins.

It is unknown how long it will take for a decision to be made on the fate of the coins.