COIN

Early Medieval coin pendant, formed from a gold solidus in the name of Anastasius (AD 491-518).

Discussion: The original coin is a gold solidus of the VICTORIA AVGGG type, in the name of Anastasius. It is very similar to Visigothic imitations in the British Museum Collection (de Salis H66 & H67), therefore making it a contemporary imitation produced in western Europe. Imitation was widespread during this period, and many of the imitation are very close in style to the original. Examples of both Byzantine issues and contemporary imitations have previously been recorded from this country.

Status as Treasure: It is the object's status as a pendant which raises the issue of treasure. A single gold coin of this period would not normally be considered as Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996), whereas a single object would. There are now numerous precedents for regarding coins with such secondary treatment as objects, rather than as coins, and therefore as potential Treasure under the terms of the Act. The object has not been analysed for gold content, but sufficient analyses have been carried out on other coins of the period to be certain that the gold content of the object as a whole would be over 10%, even if the suspension loop contained no precious metal. In fact it appears to be of very similar precious metal content to the coin-part. Consequently, the object represents in my opinion a prima facie case of Treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996).

Laura McLean, Finds Liaison Officer, Essex: October 2009

Gareth Williams, Curator of Early Medieval Coinage at The British Museum: May 2010

Additional Information from the National Finds Adviser (Sam Moorhead) and Fernando Lopez Sanchez:

This coin is as Hahn, MIBE, 4a, but is almost certainly a barbarian copy - In the British Museum, this type of coin has been catalogued as a Visigothic copy - see Visigothic coins for Anastasius in the British Museum Collection from the de Salis Collection, nos. H66 & H67. However, Guy Lacam, Civilisation et Monnaies Byzantines (Paris 1974) classifies this type as Frankish (Merovingian) - pl. CVII - A, no. 1. It is probable that the British Museum coins come from the Chinon Hoard (near Poitiers) and that this one comes from a similar source - M. C. Robert, Tresor de Chinon, Annuaire de Numismatique, vol 6, 1982, pp. 164-78. For a very similar pendant found in Hampshire, see A. Harris, Byzantium, Britain and the West (2003), pl 25.

Date of Discovery: August 31st 2009.

Coin specific details:

Obverse: Facing bust.

Obverse inscription: D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG

Reverse: Victory, left, holding cross standard, star behind.

Reverse Inscription: VICTORIA AVGGG A

Mint mark: CONOB in exergue.

Pendant details: The coin has been mounted as a pendant by the addition of a suspension loop in the form of a gold strip with three ribs. This style of suspension loop is typical of Anglo-Saxon workmanship of the sixth and seventh centuries AD (probably mid-late sixth century), and a number of coin pendants of this period have been recorded.

Coin references

No coin references available.