Rights Holder: St. Albans District Council
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Unique ID: BH-BC8491
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A copper-alloy radiate of Postumus, dating to the period AD 260 - 269 (Reece period 13). ORIENS AVG reverse depicting Sol walking left, right hand raised, whip in left hand. Mint of Lyon or Cologne. RIC V (II), p. 343, no. 77 (Lyon); or p. 362, no. 316 (Cologne). This coin has been pierced twice, the circular apertures flanking the face, at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock respectively.
Diameter: 21.3mm; thickness: 1.4mm; weight: 3.7g.
The double piercing of Roman bronze coins is discussed by T. S. N. Moorhead as part of a wider investigation into the reuse of such coins in the early Anglo-Saxon period (Moorhead, in Cook and Williams eds. 2006: 99 - 109). The author cites examples of double-pierced coins having been found in burials of this period, where they have been reused in necklaces and, possibly, sewn directly on to clothing. Moorhead states, 'It is worth noting that when found as stray finds, we can generally be confident that such coins were pierced in the post-Roman period...' (ibid. 100).
Evidence of reuse: Double piercing
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Date from: Exactly AD 260
Date to: Exactly AD 269
Period of reuse: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1.4 mm
Weight: 3.7 g
Diameter: 21.3 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 15th September 2013
This object was found at Thesaurus Group at Offley, Hertfordshire, September 2013
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Other reference: TLB 2013 - 55
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Denomination: Radiate (antoninianus)
Denomination qualifier: Certain
Ruler/issuer: Postumus
Primary ruler qualifier: Certain
Reece period: Period 13 [260-275]
Obverse description: Radiate, draped bust right.
Obverse inscription: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG
Reverse description: Sol walking left, branch in raised right hand, whip in left.
Reverse inscription: ORIENS AVG
Die axis measurement: 1 o'clock
Degree of wear: Slightly worn: very fine
Reverse mint mark: -
Status: Regular
Status qualifier: Certain
No coin references available.
4 Figure: TL1324
Four figure Latitude: 51.90309165
Four figure longitude: -0.35892861
1:25K map: TL1324
1:10K map: TL12SW
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moorhead, T.S.N. | 2006 | Roman bronze coinage in sub-Roman and early Anglo-Saxon England | Leiden | Koninklijke Brill NV |