COIN HOARD

Treasure case 2017 T332: Disclaimed, returned to finder.

2 Roman denarii to AD 194, part of a larger hoard of 3 denarii to AD 211

Circumstances of Find

Found while metal detecting on grassland by a single finder. A third denarius was also found nearby by a separate finder, recorded as SOM-ED5125, and which was probably also associated with this hoard.

Description of Find

The hoard consists of 2 Roman Denarii, at one of which is a plated contemporary copy, both dating to the second century. The earlier coin, of Trajan (AD 98-117) is a contemporary copy, with silver surface peeling away in several places revealing a copper alloy core beneath. There is no obvious indication that the second coin is also a contemporary copy, this coin being of Septimius Severus (AD 193-211) minted in the east of the empire during this emperor's second imperatorial acclamation (AD 194). SOM-ED5125, was almost contemporary with this latter coin, being of Julia Domna (AD 193-217), struck in the period AD 196-211. In general, the coins appear unworn, although the Denarius of Julia Domna is more heavily corroded. The wide date range seen here is not atypical for Roman coin hoards of this period (e.g. 2015T210, 137BC - AD 138; 2015T201, AD 81 - 197; 2014T203, AD 69 - 169). The lack of other Roman material in the area as well as the unworn state of the coins would suggest their deposition as part of a hoard.

There are good grounds to consider that these coins were originally deposited as a group and thus considered a hoard of two or more precious metal coins (plus one base metal copy), under the stipulations of the Treasure Act 1996. However, since the first discovery was previously logged as a single find (as SOM-ED5125) it cannot retrospectively come under consideration here.

Wil Partridge
FLO for Devon and Somerset
June 2017

Summary

Catalogue

Earlier single denarius find (not part of the treasure case under consideration):