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COIN
Unique ID: NCL-F02EB5
Object type certainty: Certain
A gold solidus of Arichis II, dux of Benevento (Italy), probably Class I coinage of 758-765.
See Grierson and Blackburn 1986 (Medieval European Coinage 1: The Early Middle Ages), 575, plate 50 (no 1096).
The coin bears two cut marks at 1 and 5 o'clock respectively, both of which cut through the coin in a straight line, angled toward a point just right of centre. The cuts do not meet, however, so that the coin remained intact. These cut marks may represent an aborted attempt of 'hacking' the coin for gold - a practice common in the Early Medieval period.
Notes:
The exact findspot is unknown. The coin was reported by the neighbour of the deceased finder, who had left it in a tin with various coins found over the course of his work. The finder was a groundskeeper for the local schools in the Alnwick district, and this coin may have been found during the course of work. Alternatively, the finder also helped on his brother-in-law's farm outside of Alnwick. He did not travel abroad or ever purchase antiquities. Alnwick has a long history and the coin may have been a genuine ancient loss from the area, perhaps reinforced by the incompleted hacking of the coin. On the other hand, Alnwick is the seat of the Dukes of Northumberland, a number of whom were active collectors of antiquities and many of which went on the Grand Tour in their youths. It is feasible that one of the Dukes or another member of their family brought the object back to Alnwick with them, where it was subsequently given to someone and lost.
This is a find of note and has been designated: National importance
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: BYZANTINE
Period from: BYZANTINE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Period to: BYZANTINE [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Date from: Circa AD 758
Date to: Circa AD 765
Dimensions and weight
Thickness: 1.75 mm
Weight: 3.8 g
Diameter: 19.81 mm
Quantity: 1
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Completeness: Complete [scope notes | view all attributed records]
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: Solidus [scope notes | View all attributed records]
Obverse description: facing bust holding cross
Obverse inscription: DNSVI CTORIA
Reverse description: akakia w A to left
Reverse inscription: VICTIR(wedge) (wedge)GVSTI
Die axis measurement: 6 o'clock
Degree of wear: Hardly worn: extremely fine
Coin references
No coin references available.
Spatial data
Region: North East
County: Northumberland
District: Alnwick
To be known as: Alnwick area
Method of discovery: Gardening
[scope notes]
General landuse: Other [scope notes]
Specific landuse: Recreational usage [scope notes]
Personal details
Found by: This information is restricted for your login.
Recorded by: Dr Robert Collins
- [
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Identified by: Dr Robert Collins - [view all attributed records]
Other reference numbers
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Audit data
Created:
Wednesday 20th October 2010
Updated: Wednesday 27th October 2010
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