English: The key appears to be Roman in date and has a copper alloy handle with an iron shaft. The key was found with a group of five Roman coins. Two of the coins are of a Roman silver denomination known as the denarius (plural denarii). One of these denarii is a silver plated ancient forgery.

The other three are Roman copper alloy coins (two sestertii and one dupondius). All date from the late first century AD to the middle of the second century AD.

The coins are close enough in date to have circulated together in the middle of the second century AD (denarii of Domitian might be expected to still be in circulation at this date).

The mixed group of silver and bronze coins combined with a key represents the sort of assemblage created by accidental loss, such as a purse group.

Although the group is over 300 years old and satisfies the requirements of the Treasure Act in this respect, it does not satisfy the Act in terms of metal content. The Act covers "all coins from the same find provided they are at least 300 years old when found (but if the coins contain less than 10 per cent of gold or silver there must be at least ten of them)". Analysis of the plated denarius (report attached) suggests that it is in the region of 1% silver, and not over 10% precious metal as required by the Act. The single denarius does not qualify as Treasure alone and there are fewer than 10 base metal coins.

I conclude that this find does not constitute a prima facie case of treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996), as it consists of a group one precious metal and four base metal coins of the same find.

Dr. Eleanor Ghey The Department of Coins and Medals The British Museum