A Roman coin hoard found just 25 minutes from Oldham will remain in the area after funding was secured.

The collection was found in a Littleborough field in Rochdale and highlights the presence of Roman activity in the area.

Featuring 376 coins, the stash will remain in Rochdale thanks to 'generous' funding from the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and support from the Pennines Township, Rochdale Borough Council.

The stash was found back in 2020 by two local metal detectorists, buried in shallow earth just seven inches below the surface.

Roman coins were designed similarly to modern English money, with each emperor having their own design on the currency. 

Thanks to this, it has been determined that the coins date back nearly 2,000 years and span over 120 years of Roman Empire's history.

While the discovery is an important piece of local and Roman history, archaeologists, historians and the public have been left with more questions than answers. 

Currently, it isn't known why the coins were buried, who buried them, if they intended to come back for the coins or why they stayed buried for so long.

Now, they will be going on display meaning the public can visit and ponder the coin collection's story. 

Leanne Manfredi, National Programmes Lead, Victoria and Albert Museum said: "The Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund supports the purchase of a wide range of material for the permanent collections of non-nationally funded organisations in England and Wales.

"We are delighted that this Roman coin hoard has been acquired by Rochdale Arts and Heritage Service via the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme.

"It will benefit audiences for years to come."

Coins from the hoard will be on display for the first time on Thursday, August 1 at the Feel Good Family Picnic at Harehill Park in Littleborough.

Oldham has a wider history with the Romans itself, found at Castleshaw's Roman Fort.

The fort itself was built in 79AD and served to guard the old Roman Road between York and Chester, but it fell out of use in the 90sAD.

In the modern day, the fort isn't too much to look at, as due to its protected status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument it can not be excavated.