File:Roman coin , Siliqua hoard (FindID 258969).jpg

English: Treasure Case No : 2009 T286 This hoard comprises twenty-one silver siliquae and one bronze nummus. A late Roman course grey-ware rim sherd was found in the vicinity, although we cannot be certain it is associated with the hoard. The coins were found over an area 5 metres by 5 metres. A number were on the surface, the rest were up to 8 inches deep. Summary The coins range from 355 to 402, starting with Constantius II (no. 1) and ending with Arcadius and Honorius (no. 17-20). The latest issues were struck for Arcadius and Honorius at Milan between 395 and 402 (17-20). Many hoards of this period end with coins of this issue. However, as many as 12 coins have been clipped, although mostly only lightly. It is argued that clipping occurred after AD 402 (Guest 2005, 44) or even later (Burnett 1984 and Abdy forthcoming). This would therefore suggest that the hoard was buried in the first decade of the 5th century, if not slightly later. Metal content? At this period great efforts were made by the Romans to refine gold and silver for their coinage (which carried mint-markings guaranteeing the processes) and such coins were usually as pure as was then technologically possible (greater than 95%). The nummus represent the small change of the time and is essentially a bronze coin. Conclusion On the balance of probabilities, therefore, we conclude that these coins belong together as a hoard and constitute a prima facie case of treasure by being precious metal coins of an antiquity greater than 300 years and are of one find of more than two pieces. The bronze coin is treasure by being both base metal by being in association with the precious metal coins. The pot sherd should also be considered treasure by its association with the coins. Synopsis of siliquae Trier Lyon Arles Milan 355-60 1 360-3 2 1 364-78 1 2 379-83 1 383-88 3 1 388-95 4 395-402 4 Irregular 1 Silver Siliquae (21) 355-60, Constantius II (1) Arles (1) No. Obv. Reverse M.-m. RIC VIII Qty Weight (g) 1 CsII VOTIS / XXX / MVLTIS / XXXX SCON 261/291 1 2.14 360-3, Julian Augustus (3) Lyon (2) 2 J Aug VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X PLVG 227 1 2.17 3 J Aug VOTIS / V / MVLTIS / X [ ] 218/227 1 1.60 Arles (1) 4 J Aug VOT / X / MVLT / XX [ ] 309 1 2.09 364-78, Valens (2), Valentinian II (1) Trier (1) No. Obv. Reverse M.-m. RIC IX Qty Weight (g) 5 VII VICTORIA AVGGG TRPS 43/57a 1 2.02 Arles (2) 6 Vn RESTITVTOR REIP OF * I // CONST 6d 1 2.23 7 Vn RESTITVTOR REIP OF * II // CONST 6d 1 2.04 379-83, Gratian (1) Trier (1) 8 Gn VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 58a 1 2.25 383-8, Magnus Maximus (4) Trier (3) 9 MM VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 84b 1 1.79 10 MM VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 84b 1 1.57 11 MM VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 84b 1 1.34 Milan (1) 12 MM VIRTVS ROMANORVM MDPS 19a 1 1.30 388-95, Valentinian II (1), Arcadius (3) Trier (4) 13 VII VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 94a 1 1.27 14 Arc VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 106b 1 1.36 15 Arc VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 106b 1 1.39 16 Arc VIRTVS ROMANORVM TRPS 106c 1 1.51 395-402, Arcadius (3), Honorius (1) Milan (4) No. Obv. Reverse M.-m. RIC X Qty Weight (g) 17 Arc VIRTVS ROMANORVM MDPS 1227 1 0.94 18 Arc VIRTVS ROMANORVM MDPS 1227 1 1.42 19 Arc VIRTVS ROMANORVM MDPS 1227 1 1.17 20 Hon VIRTVS ROMANORVM MDPS 1228 1 1.57 Irregular (1) 21 Arc VRBS ROMA TRS c.f. RIC IX 611 1 1.10 Bronze Nummus (1) 364-75, Valens (1) Lyon (1) 22 Vn SECVRITAS REI PVBLICAE O[F ]//...P RIC IX 12/20a 1 2.39 Notes 1. Un-clipped 2. Un-clipped 3. Lightly clipped 4. Eagle in medallion on top of wreath; un-clipped 5. un-clipped 6. Possibly slightly clipped 7. Lightly clipped 8. Hoxne type Aa (no. 423); un-clipped 9. Hoxne type A (no. 517); un-clipped 10. Hoxne type A (no. 517); very lightly clipped 11. Probably Hoxne type A (no. 517); of rather crude style; un-clipped 12. Lightly clipped 13. Hoxne type Aa (no. 574); heavily clipped 14. Hoxne type Bc (no. 615); lightly clipped 15. Hoxne type Bc (no. 615); clipped 16. Hoxne type Bc (no. 618); clipped 17. Hoxne type B (no. 706); lightly clipped 18. Probably Hoxne type C (no. 707); very lightly clipped 19. Hoxne type E (no. 709); lightly clipped 20. Probably Hoxne type E (no. 723); probably un-clipped 21. Probably very lightly clipped; c.f. Hoxne 950-2; same reverse die as Hoxne 954 References Abdy, R. Proceedings of the Traprain Law Conference (Forthcoming) Burnett, A. 'Clipped Siliquae and the end of Roman Britain', Britannia XV (1984), 163-8 Guest, P. The Hoxne Hoard (British Museum, 2005)