The Primprez hoard was deposited c.1140
and consisted of 569 silver coins and 12 silver ingots. The hoard was
discovered by chance in 2002 in the grounds of a house in the small town of
Pimprez (pronounced 'pamprey') (Oise), near Beauvais, 50km to the
north of Paris. During the 12th century a House of the Knights Templers was
located in the town. The reason for the hoards concealment and perhaps more
interestingly its non-recovery is not known. However, the unusual mix of
coins from England, the Low Countries and Switzerland would suggest an
individual or organization with strong multinational links.
The hoard was officially declared to the
French authorities and was studied by Bibliotheque Nationale de France
before being released for sale on the open market. All of the coins in the
hoard are of good silver and are bright in colour having been expertly
cleaned.
The hoard consisted of the following coins: