The borders They have never been only lines on a map, but scars of centuries of clashes. Between Scotland and Englandthe enmity was forged over fire and iron, with battles that left sweeping towns and broken alliances. In the fifteenth century, each currency that crossed from one kingdom to the other carried the shadow of a pact or the threat of a betrayal.
He trade It was not just an exchange of goods, but a constant pulse for supremacy. In this Power chessto the smallest Archaeological finding You can reveal secrets about how the economy moved in times of conflict.
Gold, war and betrayal: the legacy of a border in flames
In a field of Borders Scottish, hidden under centuries of earth and oblivion, a testimony of that rivalry appeared: a Treasury of 35 gold and silver coins buried at the time of Enrique v and Jacobo II. Those in charge of finding it were Keith Young and Lisa Stephensonamateur explorers with metal detectors.
Both were the ones who found the unusual signal that led them to the pieces, scattered as if someone had hidden them. Maybe who buried them did in the midst of a hurried withdrawal, fearing that the war would reach its door, as it had happened on the borders.
The Treasure Troove Unit and the National Museum of Scotland They confirmed that it was an exceptional finding, a vestige of monetary circulation in a period where the confrontation between the two kingdoms marked every aspect of life.
The years in which these currencies were in circulation were not peace times. Enrique V, who ruled England between 1413 and 1422, focused his efforts on the Hundred Years War Against France, but Scotland did not stay out: he sent troops to support the French, which enraged the English.
In 1421, Scottish soldiers participated in the Battle of Baugéwhere they defeated Enrique’s forces and killed his brother, the Duke of Clarence. With each battle, the tension between both kingdoms increased, and gold and silver crossed the border in a game of alliances that could change at any time.
Faced kings, shared coins
Among the pieces found there were Groats silvercoined in England under the reigns of Enrique V and Eduardo IV, and Demys Gold Scottish from Jacobo I and Jacobo II. His presence in the same set was not a coincidence: he demonstrated how the currencies of both sides mixed in a trade that challenged hostilities.
While the armies collided on the battlefield, in the streets and markets the English and Scottish coins were exchanged naturally, reflecting a interdependence That not even the war could break at all.
While Eduardo IV struggled to strengthen his reign in England in the middle of the two roses, Jacobo II, king of Scotland between 1437 and 1460, tried to expel any English influence from its territory. His death in 1460, during the siege of Roxburgh, a fortress in English hands, showed that the fight for the border was far from finishing.
The finding, initially composed of 30 pieceseven more relevant when archaeologists discovered additional five after a more detailed excavation. Its burial date suggests that they belonged to Someone who lived in the most turbulent years of the fifteenth century.
Witness of the rivalry between two kingdoms
Lisa Stephenson described the discovery, highlighting the importance of having worked together with the National Museum and the team of Treasure Troove. “Treasury is the finding of a life and being part of the excavation with the team of the National Museum and Treasure Troove was an incredible experience, something we will never forget.”
Keith Young, on the other hand, expressed his hope that the coins can be exposed in a museum so that more people can know their history: “Lisa and I have been lucky enough to find incredible artifacts, but nothing prepared us for something like that. Hopefully the treasure can be exhibited so that others enjoy it. ”
Antony Leeof the Treasure Troove Unit, stressed the archaeological value of the finding, pointing out that although it was not uncommon to find sets of Scottish and English currencies together, it was unusual to find one of this period in Scotland. “Keith and Lisa acted quickly and correctly when informing us,” he explained, adding that this allowed archaeologists to document the context of the finding and rescue the additional pieces.
Now, the treasure will go through the process of evaluation of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP)which will determine its value and assign compensation to the discoverers. If any museum wants to acquire the currencies, you must gather the necessary funds to get them and guarantee their conservation.
Meanwhile, each currency continues to tell a history of conflict and trade, war and survival. Today, centuries later, he is still witnessing a struggle that marked the story of Scotland.
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