British Museum

Huge Coin Hoard Found In Britain

One lucky treasure hunter in Britain hit the mother lode. Treasure hunter Dave Crisp was hunting in a field using a metal detector in April when he made an amazing discovery. He found a hoard of around 52,500 Roman coins dating from the third century AD, buried in a field in Frome, England. The coins were buried in a large jar and weighed about 350 pounds. Many of the coins bear the image of Marcus Aurelius Carausius, who seized power in Britain and northern France in the late third century and proclaimed himself emperor. He seized power in 286 A.D. and was assassinated in 293 A.D. The find will help draw attention to this little known historical figure, Britain's own emperor.

When Crisp began digging he unearthed a few coins but did not dig up the whole thing on his own. He wisely enlisted the help of the experts. Archaeologists from the Somerset County Council carefully excavated the jar and its contents. According to a report in the Guardian , archaeologists think they may represent the life savings of an entire community or possibly a votive offering to the gods. Because of the weight of the coins it is guessed that the pot was buried in the ground and then filled up.Part of the coins will be on display at the British Museum from July 22nd through the middle of August. it could take a year to clean up all the coins. If the find is declared a treasure, the value of the coins will be split between the finder and the owner of the land when the coins are bought by the government.

Tags: british museum, coins, dave crisp, england, metal detector, metal detectors, roman coins, treasure, treasure hunt

Enjoy the Cigar Lounge at The Montague on the Gardens

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Luxury Travel & Hotels

As I learned on my last two trips to the United Kingdom, there aren't many places where you can light up a cigar. Had I known about The Montague on the Gardens, I probably would have altered my travel plans a bit. The hotel bar has a dedicated outdoor cigar terrace, which for puffers, amounts to a bit of tranquility in an otherwise hostile world.

Toward the back of the hotel, like-minded guests can gather in the bar for a drink before stepping outside to a blissful smoking location with a great view of the Bedford Estate's private gardens. I tend to bring my own cigars when I travel, but sometimes like to sample the locally available fare and The Montague on the Gardens offers plenty of incentive. The bar has more than 20 brands on hand, including the coveted Cohiba Siglo VI. Smoke it gently while sipping a glass of Remy Martin Louis XIII, and you'll struggle to find a more enjoyable situation.

The hotel itself is designed to impress. It's a Georgian townhouse hotel with 101 rooms and suites – not to mention a two-bedroom apartment. This four-star establishment is within walking distance of the West End and The British Museum, and the "Type A" crowd will be happy to know it isn't far from London's Financial District.

Whatever the day's distraction is, though, return to The Montague on the Gardens and settle down for the evening with the cigar of your choice. Savor each draw, and punctuate it with your preferred spirit. Perfect.

Tags: british museum, BritishMuseum, cigar, cigar lounge, CigarLounge, cigars, cognac, cohiba, england, great britain, GreatBritain, liquor, london, londonengland, louis xiii, LouisXiii, remy, remy martin, RemyMartin, spirits, united kingdom, UnitedKingdom, west end, WestEnd

Kate Moss Loves Her $2.7 Million Gold Statue

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

British artist Marc Quinn's $2.7 million life-size solid gold statue of Kate Moss, which we told you about last month, just went on display to the public, and Quinn says the supermodel's thrilled. Said to be the world's largest gold statue made since the days of Ancient Egypt, the piece was unveiled at the British Museum in London and has drawn large crowds.

"When I showed Kate the statue, she told me she loved it," Quinn says of the piece, entitled Siren. "She modeled for me for a day or so - but she didn't pose for me like that." Noting that Siren is about "trying to live up to impossible dreams or immortality," something Moss apparently contends with on a daily basis, he says, "For Kate, she thinks it lifts her into a mythic level. I think she very much loved it because she appreciates the difference between her image and herself."

Tags: British Museum, BritishMuseum, Kate Moss, KateMoss, London, Marc Quinn, MarcQuinn, Statue

Brit Artist Makes $2.7 Million Gold Statue of Kate Moss

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

British artist Marc Quinn has cast a life-size solid gold statue of Kate Moss, valued at $2.7 million and said to be the world's largest gold statue made since the days of Ancient Egypt.

The statue, entitled Siren, is a larger, golden version of his 2006 marble statue of Moss, Sphinx, in a provocative yoga pose. Sphinx weighs in at 110 pounds, which is probably quite close to Moss' actual weight.

Quinn's work "deals with the distanced relationship we have with our bodies," according to his gallery's bio, "highlighting how the conflict between the 'natural' and 'cultural' has a grip on the contemporary psyche." Moss is "the ideal beauty of the moment," the artist tells Vogue UK.

Siren will be on display alongside works by Damien Hirst and others at the British Museum in London for its Satuephilia show running from Oct. 4 - Jan. 25. See the gallery for more examples of Quinn's work.

Gallery: The Art of Marc Quinn