AS the Frome Hoard goes on display to the public at the new Museum of Somerset in Taunton this week, it is hoped a display of some of the coins will soon be coming to Frome.
The hoard of 52,500 coins was found in April 2010 near Frome by local metal detectorist, Dave Crisp, and this will be the first time the collection has been on display after a national fundraising appeal saved the hoard for the nation. The coins date between 253 and 293 AD, and they cover the issues of 26 different Roman emperors. The hoard is one of the centrepieces of the new Museum of Somerset, which opens at midday Thursday 29th September following a £6.93m redevelopment.
However, Stephen Minnitt, head of museums for Somerset County Council told the Frome Times that they would be happy to provide a display for Frome Museum, to allow people from the town to get closer to the find.
Stephen Minnitt explain-ed, “The whole hoard will be held as a permanent display at the museum in Taunton, but once the dust has settled we are happy to provide a display for Frome Museum. The interest in Frome from this find has been phenomenal.”
In the meantime, visitors to the new Museum of Somerset in Taunton will be able to find out more about the history of the coins and how they were discovered as part of the museum’s many new exhibitions. While some of the coins will remain at the British Museum for the next few months as cleaning and identification continues, all the hoard will eventually return to Somerset.
The hoard was purchased through external grants and donations, notably from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund.
County councillor and cabinet member for community, Christine Lawrence said, “I am delighted to see the Frome Hoard come home. We are extremely grateful to the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Art Fund and all other funders who through their generous donations have ensured that the hoard will remain in Somerset.
“The hoard is a nationally-important find. It is the second largest collection of coins ever to have been found in the country and will form a stunning new exhibit in the Museum of Somerset.”
The Museum is based in Taunton Castle and is open 10am-5pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays and bank holiday Mondays.
