1048 Roman Coins and associated material

This report will consider these coins with respect to the criteria laid down in the Treasure Act (1996): Namely, their age, precious metal content and whether the coins can be said to come from the same find.

Circumstances of Find
This represents one of a series of treasure cases found with the aid of a metal detector earlier in the year; 22.10.08 (2008 T622) and 15.11.2008 (2008 T672). Given the similarity of the coins and the sharing of the same findspot, all these treasure cases were possibly part of the same hoarding event buried in multiple containers. These earlier cases may represent a single collection and have been termed 'Hoard A'. This case (2008 T723), found and reported intact in its original pot, is thought to be a discrete burial and is termed 'Hoard B'.

Description of Find
The coins range in date from AD 251-274 and the group is broadly similar in composition to the many Romano-British coin hoards (over 200 so far recorded) buried in the wake of the breakaway 'Gallic Empire'. The Gallic empire, whose capital was at the city of Trier but which had held dominion over Britain, was established in AD 260 and reconquered by the legitimate ('central') emperor Aurelian in AD 274.

Summary by reign (all radiates except where noted):
Central Empire
Volusian (AD 251-3) 1
Valerian & Gallienus (AD 253-60)
Valerian I 2
Gallienus 7
Salonina 3
Gallienus & Salonina (AD 260-8)
Gallienus 66
Salonina 1
Claudius II (AD 268-70) 50
Divo Claudio 1
Quintillus (AD 270) 4
Gallic Empire
Postumus (AD 260-9) 36
Laelian (AD 269) 2
Marius (AD 269) 2
Victorinus (AD 269-71) 426
Tetricus I (AD 271-4) 325
Tetricus II 110
Uncertain Gallic Emperor 8
Uncertain emperor 1
Irregular (ancient forgeries) 3
Total 1048

All are of the Roman denomination known as radiates, originally a silver multiple of the denarius, but by this time had become debased to the point of being essentially bronze (c.1% silver).

Associated Pottery and other non-coin artefacts by Dr Richard Hobbs
Dept. of Prehistory & Europe, British Museum

Mostly intact indented beaker (there is slight damage to the rim) with bung of organic fibres. The fabric appears to be grey with an orange slip, although as the vessel has not been thoroughly cleaned this needs to be clarified. The beaker has five long indentations around the central body of the vessel, a slightly flared foot and a beaded rim. (Ht.: c. 196mm, D. of rim: 77mm, Rim thickness: 6.0mm)

Conclusion
On the balance of probabilities, therefore, I conclude that these coins belong together as a hoard and constitute a prima facie case of treasure by being base metal coins of an antiquity greater than 300 years and are of one find of more than ten pieces. The pot and bung should also be considered treasure by its association with the coins.

Richard Abdy
Dept. of Coins and Medals
British Museum