COIN HOARD

Circumstances of Find

These coins, together with the remains of a broken ceramic jar were found in September 2012 using a metal detector and subsequently reported to the Finds Liaison Officer for Salisbury and South Wiltshire.

Description of Find

The coins date to between AD c. 286 and 317. This was the era of a collegiate system of imperial rule (usually 2-4 official rulers) set up by the great reforming emperor Diocletian (AD 284-305) known as tetrarchy (diarchy up to 293 and after 313). Most of the coins are a standard base metal denomination known as a nummus (pl. nummi) dating to the period AD 307-317, a time which came to be dominated by two personalities: Constantine the Great (AD 306-37) the first Christian emperor and his pagan rival Licinius (AD 308-24). However, three earlier denominations are also present representing a smaller fraction of the nummus and known as radiates (from the distinctive headgear of the emperor emanating the sun's rays as opposed to the busts on the nummi which are laureate).

Summary:

Radiates:

Diocletian (AD 284-305) 1

Maximianus (AD 285-305) 1

Allectus (AD 293-6) 1

Total 3

Nummi (by date and mint):

These coins belong to a short-lived coinage system (which was subsequently reformed in AD 317, driving earlier coins out of circulation) and form a discrete compositional group. This would suggest that they are all from one find, representing an individual's unrecovered savings deposited together as a hoard. In addition twenty sherds (together with some minor fragments) of Roman pottery also recovered had probably formed their container - the inside of the pot had built up greenish deposits consistent with prolonged contact with the copper alloy coins.

Metal Content

All the coins are an argentiferous copper-alloy. However as they are only about 5% silver they should be considered essentially bronze.

A complete catalogue of the hoard by Emma Morris is available at the British Museum.