Historic coin collection worth £500k stolen

Thieves broke into the home of Lord and Lady Stewartby in the Scottish Borders and made off with the haul worth more than £500,000.

It is thought to include at least 1,000 of some of Scotland's oldest minted coins, including one struck under the reign of Robert the Bruce 900 years ago.

Other specimens were created under David II in the 14th century, and James I and James II in the 1400s.

Lord Stewartby is one of the country's foremost numismatists - or coin experts - and spent more than 50 years amassing his collection.

It is understood he was in the process of creating a full catalogue of the items when they were stolen.

He has offered a "substantial" reward - believed to be a six-figure sum - for information leading to their recovery.

Nick Holmes, senior curator of numismatics at National Museums Scotland, described their loss as a "total disaster" for the country.

He said: "Lord Stewartby had been putting this collection together over decades.

"One of his main reasons for doing so was so it could be used as an academic resource.

"The collection is unique and important both for its quality and quantity.

"This theft really sets back studies in Scottish coinage - it is a total disaster."

Mr Holmes said coin dealers would have been tipped off about any of the items coming onto the market.

Lothian and Borders Police said the home was broken into between Wednesday June 6 and Thursday June 7.

A force spokesman said: "This collection is a unique part of Scottish history and its loss cannot be underestimated.

"We have carried out a significant amount of inquiry so far and are now appealing to the public for help.

"We would appeal to anyone who may have information as to the whereabouts of the collection or anyone who has been offered some rare and unique coins".

Lord and Lady Stewartby were not in their home when it was burgled last month.

Detective Constable Kevin Harris, of Hawick CID, said he was unsure at this stage if the coins were targeted or if the theft was opportunistic.

He said: "A quantity of jewellery was also stolen, and some of the coins were left.

"We cannot say for certain that the coins were targeted, and I wouldn't like to speculate at this stage."

He added: "We have alerted coin dealers throughout Britain, and they are keeping their eyes open." None of the 2,000 coins taken have been recovered, the officer said.

Lord Stewartby's daughter Lydia Pretzlik said her father was shocked and disheartened by the robbery. The 71-year-old former Conservative minister began collecting the coins at the age of 10 and was about to document the set when it was taken, she added.

"My father spent his whole life building up the collection," Mrs Pretzlik, 38, said.

"He had just retired and was looking forward to creating a catalogue.

"The coins were available to be used by other people for research, that was always the plan. I think he was shocked and disheartened by the theft.

"He just wants the coins back so he can catalogue them."

Before being ennobled as Lord Stewartby in 1992, Ian Halley Stewart served as an MP in Hertfordshire from 1974. He served as junior minister for Defence Procurement and Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

In 1996 he was responsible for introducing the £2 coin to Britain.