Ashmolean Appeal
Help us save King Alfred�s coins
The Ashmolean has a unique opportunity to acquire the momentous Watlington Hoard. The first large Viking hoard discovered in Oxfordshire, it contains over 200 Anglo-Saxon coins, including many examples of previously rare coins of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (871-899) and his less well-known contemporary, King Ceolwulf II of Mercia (874-879).
Thanks to pivotal grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Ashmolean Friends and Patrons, and several individuals, we have already managed to raise 80% of the £1.35m we need. We now have until 31 January 2017 to raise the remaining funds � otherwise it is highly likely that the Hoard will be broken up into individual lots, sold at auction to private collectors, and may not be seen again in public.
By making a gift today, you will be helping us to:
- Ensure a permanent home for the Watlington Hoard
- Engage visitors of all ages through free public programmes
- Inspire the widest audience through captivating displays
- Protect our world class collections for future generations.
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Thank You
To say thank you, we have come up with exciting rewards for us supporters:
- Give £10+ and receive a limited edition Watlington Hoard badge
- Give £50+ and receive a Watlington Hoard book
- Give £100+ and receive an invitation to a special lecture by Dr John Naylor, National Finds Advisor for the Portable Antiquities Scheme
See the Hoard On Display
Come and see the hoard on display at the Ashmolean in the museum�s England Gallery until 31 January 2017.
Eleanor Standley, Curator of the Ashmolean�s Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Collections, James Mather, who discovered the Watlington Hoard, and John Naylor, the Ashmolean's Medieval and Post-Medieval Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Adviser
An Exceptional Discovery
In October 2015, metal detectorist James Mather discovered an important Viking hoard near Watlington in South Oxfordshire. It dates from the end of the 870s, a key moment in the struggle between Anglo-Saxons and Vikings for control of southern England.
The Watlington Hoard sheds new light on the conflict between Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, and on the relationship between the two great Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex.
The hoard contains over 200 Anglo-Saxon coins, including many examples of previously rare coins of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex (871�899) and his less well-known contemporary, King Ceolwulf II of Mercia (874�879). This is the first large Viking hoard discovered in Oxfordshire, which once lay on the border of Wessex and Mercia. The Watlington Hoard therefore has enormous relevance to our county. At the same time this is a find of truly national importance, providing a major new source of information about this tumultuous time in the history of our nation.
Metal detectorist James Mather, who discovered the Watlington Hoard
The Hoard at the Ashmolean
The Watlington Hoard has its natural home here at the Ashmolean, in the heart of the region in which it was discovered. The Hoard will become an integral part of our world-class collection of art and archaeology which has evolved over four centuries. As a university museum we can ensure the expert interpretation of the Hoard by leaders in the field, now and in the future, and we have the expertise to conserve fragile objects and safeguard their long-term survival.
Did you know?
The Ashmolean depends on its many supporters and donors in everything it does. The Museum is free to enter and we offer over 1,000 free tours, workshops and lectures each year. Your support is extremely important and enables us to do more to inspire all our visitors with our collections.