Hoard of Celtic coins found in Dutch field.

[Stuart Quayle]

Hi folks

You may already be aware of this amazing find, but recently a hoard of Celtic gold and silver coins were found in a field in Maastricht.

Here is the news link all about the find: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,452724,00.html

[davetmoneyer]

The estimate of value is very optimistic, 175,000 euros ($220,000)
as a guide line celtic gold tends to sell at around £300-£1000 each and silver coins £20 - £200
so a hoard of 39 gold and 70 silver coins could be estimated at, at the top end £39,000 for the gold and £14,000 for the silver, total £53000 or approx 63,000 euros but is more likely to be around half this for a total value.

[Stuart Quayle]

Fascinating stuff Dave - thanks.

Is the price of Celtic gold and silver finds lower because so much of it is found possibly, or was it just a wild over estimation of the value by the Dutch?

[davetmoneyer]

Hi large numbers of both gold and silver are found each year just look on ebay!
As a general rule the estimates of value given by reporters et al are grossely overpriced, This leads to the finder feeling very disgruntled when a piece is sold
eg
Hoard of 85 Cnut pennies found a several of years ago
reported as being worth £50,000
at the time a standard Cnut penny could be bought from a coin dealer for around £85
some were retained by museums who paid around £250 per coin (these were from the very rare mints ) Detectorist feels that he is being ripped off. He then consigns the rest to a Major auction house in London
where they sell at around £65 ( Buyers have to add 15 % +VAT to the hammer price ) and the vendor gets charged 10% + VAT eventually ending up with £50 per coin on average from the auction.
His total remuneration was around £1000 from the Museums and around £4,000 from auction totalling £5000 only 1 tenth of what he had been 'reliably' told they were worth. He feels that he has been cheated and stated to the press that he would be unlikely to ever report any finds ever again.