Context (Field collection)
Icklingham Hoard, c. 400 AD. Found around 1901. Found with 1947.1858-9, and with the silver and bronze coins listed on the letter, which is now in the box with these small finds
Event Date 1901
Author: Annie McKay

Context (Related Documents)
A letter in the 1926 Correspondence Archive, dated 28 August 1926, from Horace Beck to Louis Clarke reads: 'I have here at the moment a hoard of stuff dug up about 25 years ago and although buried quite near to Barrow (near Bury) appears to have been called the Icklingham hoard. As far as I can find out it has never been described. The pot in which it was found was broken and had been repaired, but one or two pieces are missing, but he silly man who sent it down to me did not properly pack it and the pot has again got another break. It was largely filled with coins, about 10000 small copper coins, slightly corroded, but mostly legible if brushed, 72 silver practically all in mint condition, a remarkably fine silver spoon of which unfortunately the handle has been bent double and wrenched off to get it into the pot, but in spite of that it is a first class museum piece. There are five silver rings with flat places for the bezels which are detached, but two of them are there and one has an excellent gem of Jupiter. There are four silver penannular brooches, quite small, of which two have lost their pins, a few odds and ends, including a piece of linen, and some beads. I have got the lot on account of the beads, which are quite interesting. A few are on the original string and include some of the smallest glass Roman beads I have seen. There are five large annular beads, and five blue glass cornerless cubes, three and a half small thin sheet gold beads, and a number of coral ones.
I have to pay more than I care to for the lot, as all I want are the beads and a minute gold ring and a few coins as a record of date, say a dozen silver and a dozen copper, so I wondered if you would care for the rest, I would include with it some of the coral beads, and a small piece of original thread with the small black beads (about 20) and a coral one. If you think you would care to give about £18 or £20 for the lot, less beads as stated, I would send it down for you to look at. If not I will show it to the British Museum.
The silver coins which are all small are one each of Eugenius, Salonius, and Helena 3 of Valentinian I, and Theodosius 4 of Julian, and Velentinian II; 7 of Gratianus, 10 of Arcadius; 11 of Honorius, 12 of Valens, and 15 unnamed. From these it seems probable that the hoard was made in the beginning of the 5th century. I am going to Oxford on Tuesday until the end of the week.
Yours very sincerely,
Horace C. Beck'
Event Date 28/8/1926
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Context (Acquisition Details)
The sale of this hoard that Horace Beck proposed in his letter to Louis Clarke in 1926 did not transpire; the Icklingham hoard came to MAA in 1947 after Beck's death as part of his larger collection.
Event Date 1947
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

Description (Physical description)
Description for 1947.1860 D[.1-4]: '4 small silver penannular brooches, 2 with ends curled back, 2 with pins missing.'

Event Date 1947
Author: Annie McKay

Conservation (Assessment Only)
CON.2024.5859 | Assessment Only
Event Date 14/2/2024
Author: Stephanie De Roemer

Conservation (Surface Clean)
CON.2024.5858 | Surface Clean
Event Date 14/2/2024
Author: Stephanie De Roemer

Description (Physical description)
Penannular silver brooch with scrolled terminals and simple pin. Decorated with short grooved lines.
Event Date 21/2/2024
Author: Lily Stancliffe

Conservation (Surface Clean)
CON.2025.6148 | Surface Clean
Event Date 20/2/2025
Author: Stephanie De Roemer