A hoard of Roman Silver coins thought to be nearly 2,000 years old, found in Powys, have been declared treasure.

Radnorshire Museum now wants to buy the collection, found in Llanelwedd, following an independent valuation by the Treasure Valuation Committee.

The coins were uncovered between September 2020 and May 2021 by metal detectorists Darren Jessett, Justin Thomas and Mark Hewer.

Their find consisted of 29 silver coins dating as far back as AD 69. They were declared treasure on February 7, 2023.

Dr Lorna Steel, curator at Radnorshire Museum, said: “At Radnorshire Museum we are very excited to hear that a hoard of Roman silver coins has been found near Llanelwedd by metal detectorists.

“We are planning to display the coins alongside our other local Roman finds. Who buried them, and why, remains a mystery, but museum visitors will be able to view this amazing collection and find out more about the Roman occupation of Mid-Wales.”

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At the time, the hoard’s value was about one month’s pay for a Roman legionary, before deductions. It is thought that the nearby Roman auxiliary fort at Colwyn Castle might have been the source of the coins and the person who buried them.

It has also been speculated that the coins may have been buried for safe-keeping or as a votive offering, estimating the coins were buried around AD 145.

The coins were not the only Powys items to be valued by the committee, as a small medieval brooch, discovered in February 2021 by Michael Turner in Llywel, was also declared to be treasure.

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The silver frame is of circular cross-section and one face is decorated with alternating groups of grooves inlaid with black niello.

Dr Mark Redknap of Amgueddfa Cymru said: “This is an example of a thirteenth- or fourteenth-century medieval brooch decorated with dark niello in a technique that had a long period of use but became particularly popular on medieval jewellery in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

“This new find enhances our understanding of its use in Wales.”