The coins were uncovered by a man with a metal detector searching arable land near Fleggburgh.

They are thought to have been brought by Vikings when the area was part of the region under Danelaw.

Area coroner Johanna Thompson (Image: The Coroners' Society)

A formal treasure determination heard evidence from finds liaison officer Helen Geiger, who said the coins date to the early ninth century and were likely deposited in the ground around AD 830.

That means they spent nearly twelve centuries buried in Norfolk soil before being dug up on April 5 last year.

The hearing was told that the two silver coins would have been made in northern Italy and are associated with the Carolingian period.

Ms Geiger told Norfolk Coroner's Court in a statement that the coins were probably issued around AD 812 and circulated for several decades before being buried.

'Nighthawkers' illegally use metal detectors at sites without permission, under cover of darkness (Image: Mark Bullimore)

She said examples of this type are extremely rare in Britain, with no previous confirmed records of coins from this specific authority being found in the UK.

“This is the first time coins of this issue have been recorded here,” she said, indicating that their presence offers valuable insight into early medieval trade, movement and contact between England and Europe.

The coins were found together, indicating they had been deliberately deposited rather than lost individually.

Because the coins are more than 300 years old and were found as a group containing precious metal, they meet the legal definition of treasure under the Treasure Act 1996.

Confirming her findings coroner Johanna Thompson said: “This hoard fulfils the criteria for treasure and should be treated as such.”

The discovery was made during a metal detecting search carried out with permission on agricultural land.

The coins have since been recorded, conserved and reported in line with national treasure procedures.

Experts said even small hoards such as this can significantly enhance understanding of early medieval trade networks and that the coins were likely brough by Vikings when Norfolk was part of the region under Danelaw.

The coins will now progress through the Treasure Act process, which includes valuation and consideration of whether they will be acquired by a museum.

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