Archaeological discovery in Wales/ A metal-detecting enthusiast found nearly 870 gold and silver coins, along with numerous historical artifacts

Peter Hughes, a Welsh metal-detecting enthusiast, discovered nearly 870 gold and silver coins, as well as numerous artifacts probably originating from the ship Ann Francis, which sank in 1583. The treasure was found on a beach in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, after 21 years of searching and more than 1,000 visits to the area.

The first coin was recovered in 1996, after storms shifted the sand on the beach. Hughes continued his research until 2017, finding Portuguese and Spanish coins, personal items, cooking and dining utensils, a whistle, ship equipment and a combination lock from one of the vessel’s chests.

Ann Francis was carrying grain to the Iberian Peninsula and was returning to King’s Lynn with payment for the cargo, including gold and silver, when it sank on December 28, 1583. A navigational error or strong winds may have pushed the ship into the Bristol Channel.

Experts estimate that only about a quarter of the money on board has been recovered. The treasure is on display at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea until June 2027, and the beach has been declared a protected site. Searches are now prohibited by law.