122 



On a Hoard of Gold Nobles 



producing the east end of the main building southwards to a distance 

 of about 13 feet from the wall of the present back kitchen. 



The workmen, as a matter of course, appropriated the coins and 

 distributed them among themselves, being fully alive to their in- 

 trinsic value, but all unwitting, apparently, of the laws of treasure 

 trove. Mr. Phipps, with great promptitude, made the workmen 

 understand that the coins belonged neither to them as finders nor 

 to himself as owner of the soil and employer, but to the Queen, and 

 must be sent forthwith to the Treasury. By this means thirty-two 

 pieces were recovered uninjured, except that a little bit had been 

 scooped out of the edge of one, apparently to test the metal. After 

 a careful examination and list had been made they were sent to the 

 Treasury in a registered packet on the 18th of September. 



About the 18th of December twenty-eight of the coins were re- 

 ceived back from the Treasury, three of the original number being 

 retained for the Mint and one for the British Museum, and express 

 provision was made for the liberal reward of the workmen who had 

 discovered this interesting hoard. 



The general type of the coins resembles those engraved in Ruding 1 

 as nobles of Edward III., viz., Obverse, edward dei gra rex angl 

 et franc 2 d. hyb. The king standing in a ship, crowned, holding 

 in the right hand a drawn sword, and on the left arm a shield bearing 

 the arms of France and England. Reverse, >J< IHC autem transiens 

 per medium illortjm ibat (St. Luke, iv., 30), a cross fleury with a 

 fleur de lis at each point, and a lion passant gardant under a crown 

 in each quarter. 3 



1 " Annals of the Coinage, 1817." 



2 et franc was distinctly read on eight, but, instead of this part of the legend, 

 fourteen at least have dux aqu or et aqvt, &c, either after or before d. hyb, &c. 



3 Leake's " Hist. Acc. of English Money," 1745. Folke's " Table of English 

 Gold Coins," Soc. Ant. London, 1763. Pegge's "Remarks on the first Noble of 

 Edward III.," 1773, " Archseologia," vol. iii. Cuff's "Note on some Gold Coins 

 of Edward III. and Eichard II." 1842, "Numism. Chron." vol. v. is interesting 

 in reference to these Bremeridge nobles. 



As one of the many examples now happily existing of the influence of anti- 

 quarian research in improving the illustrations of educational books, it may be 

 mentioned that there is a good engraving of a noble of Edward III. in " The 

 Student's Hume," 1859. 



