File:Roman objects (8) (FindID 628464).jpg

English: COINS - Vincent Drost

8 AR denarii and 66 AE sestertii or sestertius fractions to ad 244 (possible hoard) BM ref.: 2014 T489

Circumstances of the find

Assemblage of 95 Roman coins (1^st century BC to 4^th century AD) and 8 objects submitted as a potential Treasure case. Those coins and objects were found within 50 yd radius on a possible Roman site beside the projected course of Ermine Street.

From the same find?

Among this assemblage are 66 copper alloy sestertii and sestertius fractions which could possibly be part of a hoard. The coins range from Vespasian (AD 69-79) to Gordian III (AD 238-44) and the composition is very similar to that of the Cowbit Hoard (BM ref.: 2003 T76). Most of the coins are dating to the 2^nd century AD and are extremely worn as a result of an extended circulation until the deposition of the hoard well into the 3^rd century AD. However, some of the coins struck under the Antonine dynasty are in a fairly good condition and it cannot be assured that all of the coins were originally part of the hoard. 8 silver denarii dating to the 1^st and 2^nd centuries AD could potentially be part of the hoard as well, even if hoards mixing silver coins and copper-alloy coins are not common. Nevertheless, it is difficult to ascertain that each one of those coins belong to the hoard. We might add that a gold aureus of Trajan was previously found nearby.<a href="#_ftn1" title="">[1]</a>

On the other hand, the 20 radiates or nummi dating to the 3^rd and 4^th centuries AD are very unlikely to be part of the hoard and can reasonably be considered as single finds. Whether or not the 8 various objects were part of the hoard is difficult to determine.

The coins are listed below in two separate catalogues, one for the potential hoard and the other one for the single finds. The objects are listed afterwards.

Disposition

???

Summary of the possible hoard:

Denarii Sestertii Sestertius fractions

Augustus (27 BC-AD 14) 1

Tiberius (AD 14-37) 1

Galba (AD 68-9) 1

Vespasian (AD 69-79) 1 2

Trajan (AD 98-117) 2 2 1

Antoninus Pius (AD 138-61) 1

Diva Faustina I 2

Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-80) 1 3

Lucius Verus 1

Marcus Aurelius or Lucius Verus 1

Lucilla 1 1

Diva Faustina II 1

Lucilla or Diva Faustina II 1

Commodus (AD 180-92) 1

Uncertain Antonine Empress 2

Septimius Severus (AD 193-211) 3

Julia Domna 1

Uncertain Severan Emperor 1

Gordian III (AD 238-44) 1

Uncertain emperor 22 19

Total 8 44 22

CATALOGUE OF THE POSSIBLE COIN HOARD

Denarii (8)

REIGN OF AUGUSTUS (1)

Silver plated copy

Obv.: AVGVS[T DI-VI F LVDO]S SAE (Herald standing left, holding winged caduceus and shield)

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[M SANQ]VI-NIVS IIIVIR (Laureate head of Julius Caesar deified; above, comet)	-	Cf. 70	Cf. 340	1	1.48	24

REIGN OF TIBERIUS (1)

Mint of Lyon

Obv.: TI CAESAR DIVI-AVG F AVGVSTVS

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	PONTIF-MAXIM (Female figure seated right, holding sceptre and branch)	A*	48	30	1	1.48	1

REIGN OF GALBA (1)

Mint of Rome

Obv.: IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	DIVA AVGVSTA (Livia standing left, holding patera and sceptre)	A*	5	8	1	2.61	2

REIGN OF VESPASIAN (1)

Silver plated copy

Obv.: [IMP CAESAR-VE]SP A[VG]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[PONTIF-MAX]IM (Vespasian seated right on curule chair, holding sceptre and branch)	A*	146	685	1	1.20 (frag.)	25

REIGN OF TRAJAN (2)

Mint of Rome

Obv.: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	COS V P P S P Q R OPTIM[O PRINC] (Trophy)	A3*	355	147	1	2.31 (frag.)	5
	COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC (Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and sceptre)	A3*	265	154	1	2.65	6

REIGN OF MARCUS AURELIUS (2)

Mint of Rome

Obv.: M ANTONINVS A-[VG TR P XXVI(I)]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	IMP VI-[COS III] (Marcus Aurelius standing front, head left, holding branch and short transverse sceptre)	A*	565 or 576	263 or 282	1	2.38	19

Obv.: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	VOTA/PVBLI/CA within laurel-wreath	E*	329	791	1	2.38	17

Sestertii and sestertius fractions (8)

All sestertii unless indicated (after weight).

All minted at the mint of Rome unless indicated

REIGN OF VESPASIAN (2)

Rome or Lyon

Obv.(head of Vespasian): illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible	Z	-	-	2	6.55; 2.76 (dp/as)	32; 28

TRAJAN (3)

Obv.: [IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GE]R DAC [P M TR P COS V P P]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI]; //[S C] (Trajan riding right, spearing Dacian)	A1/3*	833-4	534	1	15.29	7

Obv.: [IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANVS]; //S C (Trajan standing facing, between two trophies)	A2	1052	676	1	7.27	11

Eastern mint (?)

Obv.: illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible	Z*	1090-9	644/59	1	2.31 (as?)	91

REIGN OF ANTONINVS PIVS (3)

Obv. (head of Antoninus Pius): illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible	A1*	-	-	1	17.48	9

Obv.: [DIVA FAVSTINA]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[AETERNITAS]; S C (Aeternitas stg. l., holding phoenix on globe and raising up skirt)	E2*	1490	1157	1	10.65	14
	[AETERNITAS]; S C (Juno stg. front, head l., raising r. hand and holding sceptre in l.)	E2*	1480	1155	1	12.41	13

REIGN OF MARCUS AURELIUS (8)

Obv. (head of Marcus Aurelius): illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible	A1*	-	-	3	17.48; 13.76; 10.16	22; 31; 23

Obv. (head of Marcus Aurelius or Lucius Verus): illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible	A1*	-	-	1	11.10	40

Obv.: [L VERVS AVG] PA[RTH MAX]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[TR POT VI IMP IIII COS II]; [S] C (Victory stg. r., holding palm and shield inscribed VIC/PAR set on palm-tree)	A1*	1308	1456	1	13.88	10

Obv.: LVCILLA A[VGVSTA]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[FECVNDIT]AS; //S C (Fecunditas std. l., with child on knee; in front and behind her, child stg.)	E2*	1197	1736	1	13.32	18

Obv.: [DIVA F]AVSTINA [PIA]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[CONSECRATIO]; [S C] (Lighted altar)	E2*	1579	1706	1	13.30	16

Obv. (bust of Lucilla or Diva Faustina): illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible	E2*	-	-	1	14.79	15

REIGN OF COMMODUS (1)

Obv.: [M COMMOD ANT P FELIX AVG BRIT P P]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[LIBERAL AVG VII P M TR P XV IMP VIII COS VI]; [S C] (Liberalitas stg. l., holding abacus and cornucopiae)	A1*	650	563	1	10.61	3

UNCERTAIN ANTONINE EMPRESS (2)

Obv. (bust of an uncertain empress): illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible	E2*	-	-	2	19.53; 12.65	34; 41

REIGN OF SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS (4)

Wars of the Succession (3)

Obv.: [IMP CAES L SEPT SEV PERT AVG]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[FIDEI LEG TR P COS]; S [C] (Fides stg. front, head l., holding Victory and vertical vexillum)	A1*	469	651	1	10.93	12

Obv.: [L SEPT SEV PE]R[T AVG IMP VII]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[P M TR P III COS II P P]; S C (Fortuna stg. l., holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae)	A1*	579	706	1	18.45	29

Obv.: [L SEPT SEV AVG IMP VIII]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[SECVRITAS PVBLICA]; S C (Securitas std. l. holding globe in r. hand)	A1*	604var.	729	1	15.34	21

Joint Reign of Severus and Caracalla (1)

Obv.: [IVLIA AVGVSTA]

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	[VENVS FELIX]; S C (Venus stg. front, head l., holding apple in r. hand and drawing drapery from shoulder with l.)	E2*	775	866	1	13.99	8

UNCERTAIN SEVERAN EMPEROR (1)

Obv.: illegible

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No.	Reverse	Bust	BMC	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Illegible (Mars/Virtus stg. l. ?)	A1*	-	-	1	6.79 (as)	42

GORDIAN III (1)

Obv.: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG

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No.	Reverse	Bust	RIC	Qty.	Wt.	Cat.
	Virtus stg. front, head l., holding branch and spear; shield rests against r. leg)	A2*	293b	1	5.58 (as)	20

ILLEGIBLE COINS (41)

1. Sestertius size: 22

Nos. 33, 36-39, 43-58, 100

1. Lower denominations (or corroded fragments of sestertii): 19

Nos. 35, 59-74, 92, 93

CATALOGUE OF THE SINGLE FINDS (20)

Radiates (4)

94. Copper alloy radiate of Gallienus (sole reign, AD 266-7). Mint of Rome.

Obv.: [GA]LL[IENVS AVG]. Radiate head right.

Rev.: [SOLI CONS AVG]; //A. Winged horse prancing right.

Diam.: 17; Weight: 2.37; Die axis: 12.

Cunetio, p. 119, no. 1337.

76. Copper alloy radiate of Gallienus (sole reign, AD 260-8). Uncertain Mint.

Obv.: []. Radiate head or bust right.

Rev.: Illegible.

Diam.: 21; Weight: 2.20.

94. Copper alloy barbarous radiate copying Tetricus I (c. AD 275-85).

Obv.: []RIIA[]. Radiate bust right.

Rev.: []S AVGG. Spes walking left, holding flower and raising up skirt.

Diam.: 16; Weight: 2.70; Die axis: 7.

c.f. Cunetio, p. 163, no. 3008.

77. Copper alloy radiate of uncertain emperor (AD 260-74).

Obv.: []. Radiate head or bust right.

Rev.: Illegible.

Diam.: 16; Weight: 3.21.

Nummi (7)

30. Copper alloy nummus of Diocletian or Maximian I (AD 300-3). Uncertain Mint.

Obv.: I[]NVS P F []. Laureate head right.

Rev.: [SAC]RA MON [VRB AVGG ET CAESS NN]; []//[]. Moneta standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae.

Diam.: 26; Weight: 7.01; Die axis: 12.

75. Copper alloy nummus of Galerius as Caesar (AD 294-305). Uncertain Mint.

Obv.: []XIMIANVS NOB [C]. Laureate head or bust right.

Rev.: Illegible.

Diam.: 27; Weight: 3.45. Fragment.

27. Copper alloy nummus of the House of Constantine (AD 323). Mint of Trier.

Obv.: Illegible.

Rev.: [BEATA TRAN-QVILLITAS]; - // [.]STR (crescent). Globe on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX.

Diam.: 18; Weight: 2.73.

78. Copper alloy nummus of the House of Constantine (AD 348-61). Uncertain Mint.

Obv.: Bust right.

Rev.: Illegible.

Diam.: 26; Weight: 7.01; Die axis: 12.

80. Copper alloy nummus of the House of Constantine (AD 348-50). Uncertain Mint.

Obv.: Bust right.

Rev.: [FEL TEMP REPARATIO]; //[]. Phoenix on globe.

Diam.: 15; Weight: 1.66; Die axis: 11.

81. Copper alloy nummus of the House of Theodosius (AD 388-402). Uncertain Mint.

Obv.: Bust right.

Rev.: Illegible.

Diam.: 12; Weight: 1.08; Die axis: 11.

79. Copper alloy nummus (AD 330-402). Mint of Trier.

Obv.: Bust right.

Rev.: Illegible; //TRS•.

Diam.: 15; Weight: 1.84; Die axis: 6.

Illegible radiates or nummi (9)

82-90. 9 copper alloy radiates or nummi (AD 260-402).

Obv.: Illegible.

Rev.: Illegible.

VARIOUS OBJECTS (8) - Ralph Jackson

The Roman objects associated with the coin hoard are as follows:

No. 95, a copper-alloy circular-sectioned handle (?), with simple mouldings and a blocked terminal loop. L. 54.9 mm. Max. Diam. 16.9 mm. Wt. 47.81 g.

No. 96, a copper-alloy stylised lion-head mount, probably from a casket. Diam. 17.8 mm. Th. 8.3 mm. Wt. 5.4 g.

No. 97, a cast copper-alloy sitting duck mount, possibly from a vessel. L. 32.8 mm. W. 18.5 mm. Ht. 20.3 mm. Wt. 16.04 g.

No. 98, a lead sub-biconical steelyard weight, preserving the stub of its iron suspension loop. Diam. 42.5 mm. Ht. 37.1 mm. Wt. 337 g (about 1 pound - 1 libra = c. 327 g).

No. 99, a lead sub-biconical steelyard weight, preserving the stub of its iron suspension loop. Diam. 44.5 mm. Ht. 31.3 mm. Wt. 276 g (about 10 ounces - 10 unciae = c. 273 g).

No. 101, a copper-alloy triangular ('winged') vessel escutcheon, with simply faceted outer face. The top of the handle-loop is worn through. Ht. 55.2 mm. W. 33.7 mm. Th. c. 9 mm. Wt. 40.25 g.

No. 102, the broken end of an unusually thin flat copper-alloy steelyard beam, the suspension loops almost worn through. L. 33.9 mm. Bar W. 10.4 mm. Th. 0.9 mm. Wt. 2.18 g.

No. 103, a green glass fragment of a large thick strap-handle for a very large bottle. There are mouldings on one face and one side is preserved. 41.8 x 33.7 x 13.1 mm. Wt 17.49 g.

Date: Roman, 1^st - 4^th century AD.

Ralph Jackson

Dept. of Britain, Europe & Prehistory

British Museum

11th February 2015