File:2011 T784b (FindID 472599).jpg

The group consists of three Iron Age and six Roman coins. The Roman coins consisted of three silver Roman Republican denarii (one of which is a denarius serratus), two Roman Imperial silver denarii of the Flavian period, and one fragment of a Roman denarius that could not be identified. The Iron Age coins consisted of one gold quarter stater of Cunobelin (produced in the North Thames and Kent area about AD 10-40) and two fragments of silver units of Amminus (produced in the Kent area about AD 30-40).

Roman Republican coins circulated in Britain for a long time due to their silver content. The coins in this find could have all been in circulation at the time of deposition at some time in the mid first century AD (the latest coin found in this hoard dates to the period AD 69-79) and it is therefore possible that they represent a scattered hoard. However, it is perhaps more likely that the find represents two small hoards, one Iron Age, the other Roman. Given that the coins were in such close proximity to one another suggests that they represent a number of separate episodes of deposition at the same site, perhaps with a religious or ritual purpose (continued activity of this sort being commonly seen on Iron Age and early Roman sites). In either scenario (together or as separate groups), the coins would qualify as Treasure, being two or more precious metal coins found together.

Summary of hoard:

Roman Republican denarii

Uncertain moneyer 130 BC 1

C. Sulpicius 106 BC 1

Uncertain moneyer 1

Iron Age quarter stater c. AD 10-40 1

Iron Age units c. AD 30-40 2

Vespasian denarii (AD 69-79) 2

Unidentified denarius 1

Total 9

Recommendation

These coins satisfy the various criteria of the Treasure Act. They are more than 300 years old and are all of precious metal content in excess of the 10% threshold. They are of types that would be expected to be found together and can be considered to be part of the same find.

Conclusion

I would conclude that the present coins should be regarded as a prima facie case of treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996).

Dr Eleanor Ghey

Department of Coins and Medals

The British Museum

23^rd March 2012