PENNIES dating back more than a thousand years to the reign of King Canute, who is believed to have given Knutsford its name, have been unearthed in a field in Wales.

The collection of silver coins and ingots, which includes fragments of three or four pennies from the 10th or 11th century and most likely all from the mint of Chester, has been officially declared as treasure during an inquest at Caernarfon.

Treasure hunter Walter Hanks made the find in March while searching a farmer’s field near his home in Llanllyfni with his metal detector.

Walter, who invested in some new, high quality metal detecting equipment three years and goes searching most evenings during the week, said: “It was late one evening in March and I found two coins about ten inches from the surface.

“They didn’t look like your average run of the mill coins and I realised they were Anglo Saxon pennies.

“I carried on searching with my hands and found single ingots and I realised that they weren’t lead.

“I tapped them together and knew that they were silver.

“It was getting dark so I had to go home and continue the search the following day.

“I couldn’t sleep that night as knew that with a bit more excavation I would be able to find more of the coins and ingots.”

When 53-year-old Walter told the farmer what he had found in his field in Llandwrog he “nearly fell off his tractor” and he says Mark Redknapp from the National Museum of Wales “couldn’t believe what he was hearing” when he spoke to him about the treasure.

Val Bryant, manager and one of the trustees at Knutsford Heritage Centre, said: “It’s extremely interesting to hear of any finds to do with King Canute.

“2016 marks 1,000 years since King Canute was declared King of England in 1016 and he was crowned the following year in 1017.

“This treasure haul in Wales is fascinating to me, as a researcher, and also to everyone at the heritage centre.

“I would love to find out more and look forward to talking to Walter about his find.”

The treasure trove is now with expert valuers and proceeds from the sale of the items will be divided equally between the finder and land owner.

Walter says this recent collection is without doubt his best and most important find but the most sentimental item he has ever unearthed was a wedding ring that had been lost in a field more than five years previously.

Walter said: “I found it on the third signal and just couldn’t believe it!”
He added: “I’m still searching the same field where I found the coins and ingots as the experts have left it in my hands.

“I’m being very thorough. I recognised King Canute’s image on one of the coins straight away and I’m hoping I’ll be able to find more.”