A HOARD of Roman silver coins uncovered at Leintwardine could soon be heading home – with few clues as to how they first got there.

The coins are currently in the care of Herefordshire Museum Service having been donated by the finder and owner.

Believed to be the contents of a purse scattered by ploughing, the coins were found by a metal detectorist in the Leintwardine area over a six-month period.

The hoard includes one coin of Augustus, five of Tiberius and one of Nero and are dated to around AD 59 – when Nero was Emperor.

The nature of the hoard has prompted speculation among museum staff as to how it came to be in Leintwardine and plans are underway to display the coins in the village sometime in the future.

The coins are among a range of newly classified “treasure” finds brought to light locally by metal detectorists.

While the Leintwardine hoard was donated, many of the other finds housed in the city’s museum were subject to the treasure classification process and required the paying of a reward.

Meanwhile, in Leinthall Starkes, a detectorist exposed a silver button dated by the service as “post medieval – that is 1500 to 1700 AD. The button is made of two parts and is thought to have been originally soldered together.

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery on Broad Street can be contacted on 01432 260692 or email herefordmuseums@herefordshire.gov.uk