Gold Valens coin found at Alderney

A gold coin of Valens (reign AD 364-378) was discovered at Alderney, one of the Channel Islands between France and England. Alderney was once the site of a Roman fortress.






Artist depiction of the Roman fortress


Modern remains of the fortress:






https://www.bbc.com/articles/cpegg5397wlo

 

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Is that a centenionalis? Or a copper core of a solidus imitation? It doesn't look much like gold.

 

They may well have found a solidus but that one pictured is an ordinary AE3. If you blow up the first image you can make out that it's a Victory dragging captive type.

The BBC fact checking department has been absent for a while. Last year they published the Sponsian "new emperor" article without blinking once. Pretty disappointing.

Rasiel

 

I agree that the coin does not look like a Valens solidus. Too often the BBC relies on stock photos for their articles.