Aberdeen, Upperkirkgate
Findspot (19th Century), Coin Hoard (Medieval)
Site Name Aberdeen, Upperkirkgate
Classification Findspot (19th Century), Coin Hoard (Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Upper Kirkgate; Ross's Court
Canmore ID 20189
Site Number NJ90NW 65
NGR NJ 941 064
NGR Description NJ c. 941 064
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/20189
- Council Aberdeen, City Of
- Parish Aberdeen
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District City Of Aberdeen
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ90NW 65 c. 941 064.
A large hoard of 13th-14th century silver coins contained in a brass three-legged pot was found at a depth of 4' by workmen digging in the pavement in front of the premises of Messrs King & Co, printers, Ross's Court, Upper Kirkgate on 31st May 1886. (The Scotsman).
The coins ranged from Alexander III (1249-86) to Edward III (1327-77) and were mostly English although Scottish coins up to the reign of Robert I (1306-29) and foreign sterlings were also present. The original number of coins is not known but 12,267 were recovered, representing one of the largest hoards found in Scotland. Most of them were returned to Aberdeen by The Exchequer, but Queen Victoria, the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS) and BM acquired representative selections. The pot and some of the coins are in the Art Gallery and Museum, Aberdeen.
Name Book 1866; Northern Notes & Queries 1888; G M Fraser 1906; J D A Thompson 1956.
The bronze pot is in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
A Walker 1886; Ashmolean Museum Accessions Register 1987.
There is no change to the existing record.
Information from RCAHMS (JRS), 13 October 2003.
