A ROMAN hoard discovered near Salisbury is going on display for the first time at Salisbury Museum.

The Bourne Valley Hoard was found during a metal detecting rally in August by Tony and Paul Hunt.

The items will feature in the Hoards: A Hidden History of Ancient Britain exhibition, which is in partnership with the British Museum, and opens on Saturday.

The exhibition aims to reveal some of the stories, which lie behind the headlines of buried treasure.

When Tony and Paul found the they contacted the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme who sent a team of archaeologists to excavate it.

The British Museum laboratory removed 1,820 Roman coins. The coins turned out to be Roman radiates, dating from the late third century AD. The coins are called radiates, because the emperor depicted, wears a crown representing the sun’s rays, after the sun god Sol.

The director of Salisbury Museum, Adrian Green, said: “What is exciting about the Bourne Valley Hoard is that it is going on display in the condition it was found in.

“Treasure cases often disappear from public view until they are acquired by a local museum – but the Hoards exhibition at Salisbury Museum gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase this recent discovery. This wouldn’t have been possible without the kind support of the finders, landowner, the Coroner and the British Museum.”

As the pot contained more than ten base metal coins, it was reported as potential Treasure under the Treasure Act and if the coroner decides the Bourne Valley Hoard is treasure, the museum says it hopes to purchase it.

The Hoards: A Hidden History of Ancient Britain exhibition runs until January 5. Info: salisburymuseum.org.uk