Tyne Tees Durham Crown Court

The coins, which experts say have helped to re-write the history of the formation of the kingdom of England, are worth an estimated £766,000.

Craig Best, 46, from Bishop Auckland and Roger Pilling, 75, from Loveclough, Lancashire, were both accused of conspiracy to convert criminal property

Craig Best, 46, and Roger Pilling, 75, deny conspiring to sell criminal property – ninth century coins believed to have been buried by a Viking.