Record ID: LON-1ACB41 - IRON AGE hoard

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Hoard

Unique ID: LON-1ACB41

Object type certainty: Certain

A resized image of An Iron Age copper alloy potin hoard comprising 16 coins dating mid 1st century BC. Potin 9.

An Iron Age copper alloy potin hoard comprising 16 coins dating mid 1st century BC. Potin 9.
Curator's report:
The Coins
All sixteen coins belong to a class of Iron Age coins known as 'Flat Linear I' potins. While the majority of Iron Age coins were produced by striking a gold, silver or bronze blank between a pair of dies, potins were instead cast in moulds and made from a lead/tin-rich bronze alloy. Although highly abstract, it is clear that their designs copied earlier types which depicted a human head and a butting bull, originally derived from the coinage of the Greek city of Massalia (Marseille, France). Flat Linear potins were produced in Kent and the south-east in the mid first century BC. The coins can be summarised as follows:

Flat Linear I potin; head right, bull right; Type VA 125
1. Weight: 1.35g Registered as CCI 08.6287 LON-2BCD30
2. Weight: 0.78g (broken) Registered as CCI 08.6288 LON-2BCFB2

Flat Linear I potin; head right, bull left; Type VA 129
3. Weight: 1.81g Registered as CCI 08.6289 LON-2BBFD7
4. Weight: 1.99g Registered as CCI 08.6290 LON-2BC802
5. Weight: 1.68g Registered as CCI 08.6291 LON-2BBD77
6. Weight: 1.74g Registered as CCI 08.6292 LON-2BA693
7. Weight: 1.62g Registered as CCI 08.6293 LON-2BC524
8. Weight: 1.86g Registered as CCI 08.6294 LON-1AC785

Flat Linear I potin; head left, bull right; Type VA 131
9. Weight: 1.88g Registered as CCI 08.6295 LON-1ACB41
10. Weight: 1.37g Registered as CCI 08.6296 LON-875CB1
11. Weight: 1.72g Registered as CCI 08.6297 LON-2BC2B3
12. Weight: 1.48g Registered as CCI 08.6298 LON-2BCAD5
13. Weight: 1.55g Registered as CCI 08.6299 LON-2B8D52

Flat Linear I potin; head left, bull left; Type VA 133
14. Weight: 2.28g Registered as CCI 08.6300 LON-1AB931

Flat Linear I potin; uncertain type (VA 125 etc)
15. Weight: 0.52g (broken) Registered as CCI 08.6301 LON-2BD216
16. Weight: 0.38g (fragment) Registered as CCI 08.6302 LON-2BDE91

VA = Van Arsdell, Celtic Coinage of Britain, London, 1989
CCI = Celtic Coin Index, Oxford & London

Age, number, Metal
The present find easily satisfies the terms of the Treasure Act with regard to their age, metal and number. The coins are clearly more than 300 years old and there are more than ten base metal coins.

Of the same find?
The type and reported circumstances of discovery strongly suggest that these coins formed a single group at the time of their burial in antiquity.

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).

Ian Leins, Department of Coins and Medals, The British Museum, 29 August 2008

Subsequent actions

Current location of find: Gunnersbury Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure

Treasure details

Treasure case tracking number: 2008T412

Chronology

Broad period: IRON AGE
Period from: IRON AGE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: IRON AGE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Circa 75 BC
Date to: Circa 25 BC

Dimensions and weight

Weight: 1.88 g
Quantity: 1

Materials and construction

Primary material: Copper alloy [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Manufacture method: Cast [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Complete [scope notes | view all attributed records]

Spatial data

Region: South East And London
County: Greater London
District: Hounslow
Parish: Brentford

Restricted 4 Figure grid reference: TQ1675
The map has been degraded and provides an approximate location with a degree of random obfuscation.
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

Method of discovery: Metal detector [scope notes]
General landuse: Open fresh water [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Running water [scope notes]

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 14th June 2008

Personal details

Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Mrs Kate Sumnall - [ view all attributed records]
Identified by: Mr Ian Leins - [view all attributed records]

Other reference numbers

Treasure case number: 2008T412

References cited

No references cited so far.

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