St Nicholas Centre 1983 Complete Pot from 1983 St Nicholas Street Coin Hoard
Date13th to 14th century
Object Namepot
Mediumpottery
ClassificationsArchaeology Excavated
DimensionsLength: 20cm
Diametre (Min): 12cm
Diameter (Max): 20cm
Diametre (Min): 12cm
Diameter (Max): 20cm
AcquisitionPurchased through Treasure Trove.
Object numberABDMS028341
About MeDuring the construction of the St Nicholas Centre, workmen found two locally made pottery jugs containing around 7000 silver pennies. This is one of the hoards dating to the 13th to 14th century. The group of 14th-century coin hoards found in Aberdeen city centre is unparallelled in Britain and may even be unequalled in the whole of western Europe.
Coins were buried because during the medieval period there were no banks, and the hiding of money in this way kept it safe. When the owner did not return to collect the money, it remained safe until the ground was disturbed, in this case 640 years later.