Roman Age coins a treasure trove

Tag : copper alloy
London, Nov 03: One of the largest deposits of Roman coins everfound in Wales, UK, which consists of nearly 6,000 copper alloycoins, has been declared a treasure trove.

According to a report by a TV channel, the Roman coins hoard wasfound buried in two pots in a field at Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, bya local metal detector enthusiast in April.

Two separate hoards were found by the metal detectorist onsuccessive days, one involving 2,366 coins and the other 3,547coins, 3m away.

The 1,700-year-old coins dated from the reigns of numerousemperors, notably Constantine I (the Great, AD 307-37), duringwhose time Christianity was first recognised as a state religion.

Derek Eveleigh, from Penarth, who came across the hoards in a fieldof sheep, has kept his find a secret until the outcome of aninquest into the findings.

An independent committee will now value the coins.

Edward Besly, the National Museum Wales coin specialist, hascalled the discovery an exceptional find.

The coins provide further evidence for local wealth at the time.They also reflect the complex imperial politics of the early fourthcentury, he said.

It is thought that the two hoards were buried by the same person,possibly two years apart. A similar find was uncovered in the areain 1899.

There was quite a bit of Roman activity in the area at the time,southwards from Cardiff Castle, where there was a Roman fort, tothe Knap at Barry where there was an administrative building andthere were farms in the Sully area, said Besly.

Theres a human story there somewhere but its intangible, wecant really get to it but certainly somebody buried two pots ofcoins. It could have been they were buried for safe keeping,possibly at a time of danger, he added.

It is hoped that the coins will be given over to the NationalMuseum Wales for further study and to go on public display.

ANI