Hoard of 30,000 silver Roman coins discovered in Bath

The Telegraph [UK] ^ | March 22, 2012 | Andrew Hough

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

More than 30,000 silver coins have been found by archaeologists working at the site of a new city-centre hotel.

The hoard, believed to date from the third-century, was unearthed about 450 feet from the historic Roman Baths.

Experts believe the “treasure trove” is the fifth largest hoard ever discovered in Britain and the largest from a Roman settlement.

The coins, which have now been sent to the British Museum for further analysis, are fused together in a large block.

This makes identification and counting difficult and conservators at central London Museum expect the task of analysing the coins to take up to 12 months.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Interesting. But I had one minor problem with the article. It says that the coins were silver, and were believed to date from about 270 A.D. It is perhaps a minor point, but by 270 the vast majority of Roman coins were cast in bronze, not silver. The antoninianus, which replaced the denarius in the early third century, began to be debased in its silver content until, by 270 A.D., it was a bronze coin with a thin silver wash. The coins from 210 to mid-century, even in the late 240's and early 250's A.D. (under Trajan Decius) would appear to be decent silver, but by the mid 260's (under Gallienus) even the facade of it being primarily silver had disappeared except for the silver wash bestowed on the bronze coins.

It should also be noted that the picture in the article is not of the recent find, but of an earlier find.

[Army Air Corps]

ping.

[chopperman]

I find it alarming that the evolution of the construction of our coinage is similar to what was experienced by the deteriorating Roman Empire.

[BreezyDog]

Well then, thanks for the excellent analysis. I will come back later to see if anything else was added.

About 20 years ago I found an early 1900's Canadian silver dime in a foot of water in the Severn River here in Maryland. I was using a Whites metal detector. IIRC the dime was encrusted in black crust which chipped away easily. I couldn't tell you where it is now.

[cardinal4]

Roman Britain, or Brittania, is one of my favorite historical periods at the moment..

[Snickering Hound]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorinus

From that short period where the Gallic Empire had split off from Rome during the crisis of the 3rd century.

[Smokin' Joe]

The antoninianus, which replaced the denarius in the early third century, began to be debased in its silver content until, by 270 A.D., it was a bronze coin with a thin silver wash.

Like the US quarter in AD 1965, only the 'silver wash' was layers of cupro-nickel over copper.

Other parallels exist between us and Rome.

[GeronL]

That must have been a big tub for all those coins to have been missed for so long.

[Conservative4Ever]

My thought too.

[ClearCase_guy]

Learned all that in 8th grade history class, eh?

;)

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Learned all that in 8th grade history class, eh?

Nah. I've done got me some book learning and ciphering and stuff since then.

Plus, I collect ancient coins. That, and having taught ancient church history in college for several years some time back (a good bit closer to Roman times than now) helps. :-)

[rlmorel]

Great post...you never know who you will meet on FR, or what knowledge they have.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Thanks for your kind words.

[CrazyIvan]

30,000 Roman pieces of silver. Enough to pay Judas 1000
times.

[SunkenCiv]

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Thanks Army Air Corps. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[kearnyirish2]

“I find it alarming that the evolution of the construction of our coinage is similar to what was experienced by the deteriorating Roman Empire.”

How about the increasing number of non-Romans that made up the empire?

[kearnyirish2]

In my town many Scots still pride themselves on the fact that Rome never successfully invaded Scotland. While the same holds true for Ireland, I honestly admit that there wasn’t the concerted effort that was made against Scotland.

The most interesting part was the unraveling, as they pulled out to deal with more immediate threats.

[garjog]

Wonder who left the coins buried there? Why didn't they spend them?

Reminds me of the film The Eagle about the Romans in England.

[Nik Naym]

“...Roman coins discovered in Bath”

Lucky guy.

All I ever find is hair in the drain.

[coloradan]

Nah, that could never happen here.