The Museum of Chelmsford has acquired the Great Baddow Hoard, the largest collection of Iron Age gold coins ever discovered in the United Kingdom. Unearthed in Chelmsford in 2020, the hoard consists of 933 gold coins dating from 60-20 B.C.E., along with fragments of glass, leather, and a vessel.
Dating to a period when Iron Age tribes in Britain were minting their own currency, the coins may offer insights into the interactions between the Trinovantes and Catuvellauni tribes. Some archaeologists suggest the coins could have been intended as a tribute payment to Julius Caesar. The acquisition was made possible through funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other organizations.
The Great Baddow Hoard will be displayed at the Museum of Chelmsford. A temporary exhibition is scheduled for the summer of 2026, followed by a permanent exhibition starting in the spring of 2027. This will allow the public to view this significant archaeological find and learn more about the Iron Age history of the region.