A SET of rare reproduction historic coins were stolen during a burglary while the owner slept upstairs.

Police want to hear from anyone who is offered any of the coins which are identical to those pictured.

Thieves are believed to have forced a side door to gain entry to the house in Bosworth Close, Hockley, sometime between 11.20pm and 7.20am on Tuesday, January 7.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “They then made an untidy search of the downstairs of the property while the victim was asleep upstairs and stole the coins, worth around £480, some jewellery and a black Dell Inspiron laptop computer.”

The stolen coins are all part of a “Historic Coins of Great Britain Museum Collection”.

Only about 30 sets are sold across the country each year.

Sets include the Triple Unite of Oxford, the 1489 Henry VII Gold Sovereign and the Anglo-Saxon Gold Coenwulf Penny.

Police have secured photos of the first 10 coins identical to the ones stolen.

If anyone is offered these items for sale or knows anything about the theft, they are urged to contact PC Ben Freeman at Southend CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.