English: A group of 39 sestertii dupondii and asses, the latest legible specimen of which dates to the reign of Gordian III. Although the date range spreads over more than a century, they form a compact group and their wear patterns are consistent with coins lost or buried together, the earlier coins generally showing more wear than the later ones. These coins were all found in a relatively small area and undoubtedly represent a dispersed hoard.

Catalogue

Trajan, sestertius, reverse illegible, 98-117 (JO1)

Trajan, dupondius, reverse illegible, 98-117 (MB1)

Trajan, dupondius, reverse illegible, 98-117 (JO2)

Trajan, dupondius, reverse female standing left, 98-117 (JO3)

Trajan, as, appears to be a cast copy, reverse illegible, 98-c.270 (JO4)

Trajan or Hadrian, as or dupondius, 98-138 (7)

Hadrian, dupondius, reverse standing figure, 117-25 (2)

Hadrian, as, reverse standing figure, c.125-38 (MB2)

Antoninus Pius, sestertius, reverse figure standing left, 138-61 (5)

Antoninus Pius, sestertius, reverse female seated left, 138-61 (MB3)

Antoninus Pius, sestertius, reverse illegible, 138-61 (MB4)

Antoninus Pius, sestertius, reverse standing female, 138-61 (JO5)

Antoninus Pius (?), sestertius, reverse illegible, 138-61 (JO6)

Faustina I, sestertius, reverse standing figure, 138-41 (JO7)

Faustina I, as or dupondius, reverse standing female, 138-41 (JO8)

Lucius Verus, sestertius, reverse illegible, 161-9 (1)

Lucius Verus, dupondius, reverse Fortuna seated left, RIC III, 1341, 162-3 (MB5)

Lucilla, sestertius, reverse Fecunditas seated right, RIC III, 1737, 164-9 (6)

Faustina II, sestertius, reverse Salus seated left, RIC 1668, 161-75 (JO9)

Faustina II (or Lucilla), sestertius, reverse standing female, 161-75 (JO10)

Marcus Aurelius, sestertius, reverse illegible, 175-80 (MB6)

Crispina, cast copy of a sestertius, reverse female seated left, 164-c.270 (MB7)

Commodus, sestertius, reverse female standing left with sceptre, 180-92 (JO11)

Commodus, sestertius, reverse Roma seated left, RIC III, 369ff, 183-5 (MB8)

Uncertain Antonine emperor, sestertius, reverse illegible, 138-92 (JO12)

Didius Julianus, sestertius, reverse Julianus standing, RIC IV.1, 16, 193 (MB9)

Septimius Severus, sestertius, reverse ?Roma seated left, 193-c.200 (MB10)

Septimius Severus, cast copy of a sestertius, reverse illegible, 193-c.270 (JO13)

Gordian III, sestertius, reverse Jupiter standing, RIC IV.3, 298-9, 238-44 (JO14)

Completely illegible sestertii, probably 1st-2nd century (2, JO15-16)

Illegible asses or dupondii, probably Antonine, 117-92 (4, JO17-18, 3-4)

Fragmentary and corroded coins, probably asses or dupondii, illegible (4, JO19-22)

[Small copper alloy bar, approximately 6mm in diameter, 15mm long and weighing 2.14g]

Date: The latest coin in the group that can be accurately dated belongs to the years 238-44. This is very corroded and so its condition when deposited cannot ascertained. The hoard is certainly very late in date for an aes hoard and could well be connected to the recycling of sestertii and the sub-denominations at a time when these coins were worth more as scrap metal than as units within an ordered monetary system. If this was the case then the hoard was quite possibly connected to irregular radiate production in the 270s although the only possible evidence for this in the immediate area was a small piece of copper alloy bar similar in general form to other such bars recovered from irregular third-century mint sites. Large bronzes of the third century are distinctly uncommon in Britain and their scarcity in a hoard like this is not unusual. Whether it was a currency hoard or a scrap hoard this group of coins was most likely lost or deposited at some time within the third quarter of the third century.

Discussion: A group of ten or more base metal coins lost or deposited in the ground together more than 300 years ago constitutes a case of Treasure. This group fulfils these criteria and thus represents a case of Treasure.