A HUNT to track down the owners of an impressive stolen vintage coin collection has been launched by police - with some pieces dating all the way back to the 1800s.

The historic stash, which includes old coins such as shillings, six pences, silver, brass, farthings and florins , was uncovered by Essex Police crews during a raid at an address in Benfleet on Wednesday.

While the value of the find is unknown, the team believe the coins were possibly stolen during a burglary or theft.

But unfortunately, teams have been unable to track down the owners of the discovery, prompting an appeal to help reunite them with what could be their “life’s collection”.

Speaking of the find, Mike Davies, chairman of the Rayleigh Town Museum, said: “I expect whoever owned the collection must’ve been quite passionate about it and its history.

“A lot of collections people spend years getting together. You could get nearly all of one particular group of things, but if you are missing one or two little pieces it’s often you may pay over the odds for it. 

“Some actually spend years going on eBay and searching through second hand shops to find that missing piece. 

“I do think it would mean so much to the owner if they ever got this back. Of course we don’t know the circumstances, but it could be their life’s collection, or maybe their father’s collection or even passed down to them through generations.”

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A list which outlines the timeline of each coin and its type was found alongside the collection, with each piece also labelled by date.

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Mr Davies added: “Their worth typically depends on whether they’re in mint condition, their rarity, and that sort of thing rather than age. 

“Even Roman coins you pick up can be worth very few pounds. And if you’re looking at shillings or florins you also have to think, there were actually millions of them made where they were printed for everyday circulation.

“I think the same rule applies to any sort of collectable, whether it’s books, China, teapots whatever it is. The more common they are, the less they’re worth.

“That being said, there are a lot of unanswered questions which hopefully the owner will one day be able to answer. Were they stolen because they are in fact valuable? Where they buried underground at the time? 

“I do hope they get it back.”

Essex Police are now appealing for help from the public, asking residents to come forward if they happen to recognise these vintage coins or the handwriting on the labels.

A spokesperson from the force said: “We have recovered these during a search warrant at an address in Benfleet yesterday and are trying to identify the owner. 

“The coins were possibly taken during a burglary or theft in a dwelling, however we have so far been unable to trace them.

“If you can provide any details please contact PC Sheridan on 101 or drop us an email.”

If you do have any information, you can email castlepointandrochfordcpt@essex.pnn.police.uk