2010-10-20 15:55:39 Robert Collins rcollins 2010-10-27 21:18:25 Sam Moorhead sam NCL-F02EB5 COIN 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. 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 thr... 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. Gold Struck or hammered BYZANTINE BYZANTINE Middle BYZANTINE Middle 758 765 19.81 1.75 Complete 2010-10-20 15:55:39 NORTHUMBERLAND ALNWICK POINT( ) NU11SE NU1812 29.06.2003 Gardening 1 NCL Creative Commons Non Commercial Share Alike - The Portable Antiquities Scheme 2010 These records can be reproduced in a non commercial enviroment as long as the original recorder is cited. The Portable Antiquities Scheme info@finds.org.uk No fees are applicable.