some coins from Late Roman bronze hoards

I have a lot of coins from LRB hoards, so I figured I would post some (in no particular order) with a little info about the hoards.


Langtoft I



Galerius
A.D. 298- 299
26x28mm 9.3g
MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear.
GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae; B in left, ✶ in right.
In ex. TR
RIC VI Trier 360

Ex Phil Peck (AKA Morris Collection)

Ex Langtoft I hoard




UK Treasure Annual Report 2000:

Item 255: Langtoft A, East Yorkshire: 976 Roman base-silver coins and pot.
Deposited: About 305 AD
Finders: Messrs P. Rennoldson, S. Best and J. Haley
Date of Discovery: September 24, 2000
Circumstances of Discovery: While searching with metal detectors
Description: 976 base-silver denarii, radiates and large nummi

Radiates:

Valerian I (253-60 AD) - 1
Gallienus (253-68 AD) - 59
Salonina (Wife of Gallienus) - 6
Claudius II (268-70 AD) - 72
Postumus (260-69 AD) - 1
Victorinus (269-70 AD) - 1
Quintillus (270 AD) - 6
Aurelian (270-75 AD) - 34
Severina (Wife of Aurelian) - 4
Tacitus (275-76 AD) - 68
Florian (276 AD) - 5
Probus (276-82 AD) - 172
Carus (282-83 AD) - 4
Carinus as caesar - 3
Numerian (283-84 AD) - 5
Carinus (283-85 AD) - 7
Carausius (287-93 AD) - 1
Allectus (293-96 AD) - 1
Diocletian (284-93 AD) - 61
Maximian (285-93 AD) - 61
Galerius as caesar - 2
Uncertain - 1

Denarii:

Aurelian - 1
Severina - 2

Full-weight nummi:

Diocletian - 107
Maximian - 77
Constantius I as caesar - 109
Galerius as caesar - 97
Uncertain - 8



Martok Hoard

consisting of some 425 Roman coins from the Constantinian period found in 2012 buried in a pot in Martok, UK.



Constantine I
A.D. 319-20
Ӕ nummus 18x19mm 2.5g
CONSTANT-INVS AVG -- high crested helmet, cuir., spear across r. shoulder, shield on left arm
VICT• LAETAE PRINC PERP -- two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding shield/wreath inscribed VOT PR on altar inscribed with the letter I.
In ex. BSIS✶
RIC VII Siscia 95


The Bourton-on-the-Water Hoard

discovered in 1970 in England. The main part of this Constantinian hoard consisted of 2,707 coins and the majority were Sol issues from London and Trier. It was probably buried shortly after the coin reform which introduced the VLPP series, so circa A.D. 318-19



The obverse legend of this coin is not listed in RIC...RIC only records this coin with the longer IMP LICINIVS P F AVG legend


Licinius I
A.D. 315-316
21mm 3.8g
IMP LICINIVS AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right
GENIO POP ROM; Genius holding patera and cornucopiae, A-S across fields.
In ex. PTR
cf. RIC VII Trier 85; BOW Hoard #2318 (this coin)


"Bourton-on-the-Water (Gloucestershire) Hoard of Constantinian Folles", Numismatic Chronicle 1973


Chapmanslade Hoard

discovered on 18 January 1993 in Chapmanslade in Wiltshire. It comprised 5,200 coins with all but 12 issued after A.D. 317 and the latest coins were from A.D. 337.





Crispus
A.D. 321- 323
18mm 2.3gm
IVL CRISPVS NOB C; bust l., helmeted, cuir., shield on l. shoulder, Victory on globe in r. hand.
BEATA TRANQVILLITAS; globe set on altar inscribed VO/TIS/XX; above, three stars.
In ex. [P]TR crescent
RIC VII Trier -- ; RMBT 247; Chapmanslade CHRB X 238 (this coin)

Interestingly, as I was reading in CHRB about this hoard, there was a section about coins that were not in RIC. This coin (#238) was not listed. I read on and saw that they considered this coin an unofficial issue.

However, there is another example, die matched with this one, that clearly shows they are official.

According to “Die Römische Münzserie Beata Tranquillitas in der Prägestätte Trier 321-323” (RMBT), though hesitatingly with ?'s, the shield is engraved with Constantine I seated beside Crispus with Constantine II in between.


Freckenham Hoard of 1948

contained almost 600 Constantinian era coins



Constantius II
A.D. 348- 350
21mm 5.0g
DN CONSTAN-TIVS P F AVG; pearl-diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right.
FEL TEMP REPARATIO; Emperor in military dress stg. l., holding phoenix on globe and standard with [Chi-Rho]; in stern sits Victory, steering ship.
In ex. SLG
cf. RIC VIII Lyons 69

unofficial issue


Chitry Hoard

discovered in 2007 in France. It contained around 2500 bronze coins from the late 3rd century to the early 4th century.



Constantine I
A.D. 312- 313
20mm 3.4g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. l., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys over l. shoulder; in left field ✶
in ex. PLN
RIC VI London 279; LMCC 8.01.006

Ex trésor de Chitry, #701


1873 Little Orme’s Head Hoard

The hoard was found on the northern coast of Wales and had about 5,000 coins from Western mints, starting with coins from Carausius and ending with coins of Constantine I and Licinius I.



Constantine I
A.D. 314
19x22mm 2.7g
CONSTANTINVS P AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SOLI INVICTO COMITI; Sol rad., stg. l., raising r. hand, globe in l., chlamys across l. shoulder; across fields S-F.
in ex. PLN
RIC VII London 15; LMCC 8.02.023


Nether Compton Hoard

“This massive hoard of 22,670 Roman coins was found by Mike Pittard while metal detecting in a field near Nether Compton on 19 February 1989. The field is by the side of a trackway, the other side of which is a known Roman building. The actual finding of the hoard was photographed and the report was published in The Searcher magazine (Issue 44, April 1989). The hoard was deposited with the Yeovil Museum by the finder in 1989. It was subsequently returned to the finder, sold, and dispersed through the trade in 1994. No detailed record was made of the contents of the hoard. The pottery vessel and some 33 additional coins that had remained stuck to the pot were donated to the museum and remain there. Although the Nether Compton Hoard was never recorded or published, a limited amount of information has been gleaned from people who have handled it or part of it. It was a very large mid-Constantinian hoard and typical in composition, with all but about 7% consisting of the very common bronze issues of the AD 330s (the Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis commemoratives and the Gloria Exercitus type in the names of Constantine I and his sons). There were no coins of the two Victories type, suggesting that the hoard was deposited around AD 339.”



Constantinopolis
A.D. 332- 333
18mm 2.5gm
Obv: uniface—striking error
Rev. Victory stg. on prow, holding long scepter in r. hand, and resting l. hand on shield.
in ex. TRP✶
RIC VII Trier 548


1895 Bishop's Wood hoard

The hoard was discovered at Bishop’s Wood, near Ross-on-Wye, just across the Herefordshire border and within the surroundings of the Forest of Dean. It was uncovered in a rough walling built against the hillside by workmen who were in the process of repairing a road and who struck an earthenware vessel containing the coins. The accidental strike from a pick broke the jar and scattered its contents in various directions.

Included with the hoard is a reprint of the article from the Numismatic Chronicle of 1896 where 17,550 coins were listed in total and a reprint of ‘Notes on a Great Hoard of Roman Coins found at Bishop’s Wood in 1895’ from the "Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society", vol. XIX, both written by Mary Bagnall- Oakeley.




the pot on the labels is the one the hoard was discovered in


Bikić-Do Hoard

This hoard was discovered in Serbia in 1952. There were 10,590 coins, mostly from Eastern mints. 22 coins dated before A.D. 318 and 9 after A.D. 324. There were no Licinius IOVI types retarrifed to 12 and a half.




Constantine II
A.D. 319- 320
18x19mm 3.5g
CONSTANT-INVS IVN NOB C; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
VICT•LAETAE PRINC PERP; two Victories stg., facing one another, together holding wreath inscribed VOT PR on altar inscribed with what looks like a circle, though it should be an S.
In ex. ΓSIS✶
RIC VII Siscia –-

RIC does not list this emission with the longer obverse legend, only N C versus NOB C.

Ex-Peter Weiß

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Weiß_(Historiker)

Plate coin for Bikić-Do Hoard #387

Sirmium VIII. Études de Numismatique Danubienne: Trésors, Lingots, Imitations. Monnaies de Fouilles IV au XII Siècle (Rome: Ecole francaise de Rome, 1978)

 

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Mildenhall Hoard of 1833

discovered in 1833. There were 1,286 coins from the 3rd century. One was a denarius of Caracalla and the rest were antoniniani from Valerian to Aurelian.







the coins are in fairly rough condition, not surprising though because when they were discovered they were a "badly rusted mass of coins"

the Probus was not part of the hoard; but was discovered nearby.


the example below is interesting because it is not in RIC for the bust (head with slight drapery) but is in Göbl




Gallienus
A.D. 264- 265
Ӕ Antoninianus
18x20mm 2.4g
GALLIENVS AVG; radiate head left with slight drapery over right shoulder.
IOVI CONSERVA; Jupiter stg. l.; holding thunderbolt and sceptre; at foot eagle; in left field S.
RIC Vi Mediolanum 486 var.; Göbl 1037L



Ibberton Hoard






The Carleton St Peter Hoard





Constantine I
A.D. 323-4
19mm 3.5g
CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate head right.
SARMATIA DEVICTA; Victory advancing r., holding trophy, palm branch, spurning captive std. on ground to r.; C in left field
In ex. PLG crescent
RIC VII Lyons 214


Falmouth Hoard of 1865

The Falmouth hoard of approximately 600-1000 roman bronze coins of the 3rd & 4th Century AD was found on farmland near Falmouth while ploughing on the 18th April 1865.



Constantius I
A.D. 296-303
25x27mm 9.1g
FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae.
No mintmark
RIC VI London 14a/20; LMCC 2.01.010


Rauceby Hoard 2017

This hoard was discovered in the UK in 2017 and totaled 3,099 coins. Two coins were radiates (before A.D. 282) and the rest were struck from A.D. 294- 307. The majority are from western mints…London (875) Trier (1459) and Lyon (468).



Diocletian
A.D. 297
26mm 9.1g
IMP DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right.
FELIX ADVENT AVGG NN; Africa standing left, holding labarum and tusk; at feet, lion with captured bull, in left field A
in ex. PKP
RIC VI Carthage 21a


Epfig Hoard

close to 14,000 coins discovered by construction workers in Epfig, France in 2010.



the coin is reversed in the holder



and a lone silver coin--

1887 East Harptree hoard



Julian II
A.D. 360- 363
AR siliqua
17x18mm 2.1g
FL CL IVLIANVS P P AVG; pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
VOTIS V MVLTIS X in laurel wreath.
In ex. LVG
RIC VIII Lyons 218

 

"Coin hoards from Roman Britain" is a series of 13 volumes and I thought it would be worthwhile to list the volumes that LRB people might find interesting. I did not list anything about volumes 4 and 6 because I don't have them since I heard that there are not any LRB hoards in them. I did not list every hoard in each volume as some have numerous hoards, for example-- vol 12 has 55 hoards.


CHRB 1. Chorleywood hoard 4,358 coins mid-4th 330-348 Hamble hoard 2,494 A.D. 330- 335

CHRB 2. Bicester hoard 440 coins A.D. 317- 348

CHRB 3. Blackmoor Hoard 29, 773 coins circa A.D. 293

CHRB 4. ---

CHRB 5. Has some LRB hoards, but I don't know which ones.

CHRB 6. ---

CHRB 7. several LRB hoards, mostly Constantinian. 18 hoards in total, the largest is the Cae Bardd of 4716 plus 271 coins ending A.D. 328

CHRB 8. 18 hoards, the main one and focus of the book is The Normanby Hoard of Roman 3rd Century Antoninianii 47,898 third century radiates A.D. 253- 284

CHRB 9. Chalfont Hoard 6,628 coins, mostly debased ants from the later 3rd century.

CHRB 10. 60 hoards, at least 20 of interest to LRB enthusiasts. Chapmanslade had 5,200 to A.D. 337

CHRB 11. early Imperial period through AD 235

CHRB 12. 55 hoards, maybe half would be of interest to LRB collectors most famous are Langtoft II of 923 coins ending in the 320's and the Grassmoor Hoard of 1422 coins ending in A.D. 340

CHRB 13. Gloucester Hoard over 15,000 coins A.D. 270- 293. Includes two smaller hoards of Carausius and Allectus.


Wikipedia has a page on some of these coin hoards- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_hoards_in_Great_Britain



this book is not part of the CHRB series, but it is a fantastic addition to your library if you have any interest in British hoards



"This long-awaited inventory collates material from more than 1,900 coin hoards, comprising c.640,000 coins, found in Britain and dating from the 1st to early 5th century AD. Robertson describes it as `a corpus amenable to unlimited exploitation'. Entries are listed chronologically by Emperor and include descriptions of the coins, details on the find spots, the containers of the hoards and objects found in association. This large volume forms an important source of reference for Roman Britain and numismatic studies in general, and highlights the continued practice of hoarding throughout the Roman occupation of Britain."


lots of interesting information and fun trivia like how the writer of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recorded that in the year 418 the Romans collected all the hoards of coins that were in Britain and hid some in the earth and carried some with them to Gaul.

or the story of how in 1858 farmworkers found the Cowlam hoard while plowing..."The twelve lads who were ploughing all wanted some (coins) in their pockets...you should have seen the lads reaching over the pankin, and scrimpin the money in...They said "We'll nivver work na mair."

how about this-- did people in antiquity collect coins? Well, "In 1794, was also found at Rowley Regis, an earthen globe, containing about 1200 similar coins in silver, which, when all together, formed a complete series of Roman emperors." Gent. Mag. 1796


520 pages, stuffed with numismatic tidbits. It's not often that coin books are fun, but this one is for me.

 

You mention lots of British hoards, despite Rome's relatively short time on the island. Never really understood why.
Is that because we just see English language articles, or perhaps the Roman lands in Europe and the middle east were always occupied so hoards were discovered a 1000 years ago instead of recently? No banks in Britain but banks in the rest of the Empire? British nannies teaching the value of saving money to children at a young age?

 

400 years is not that short and my main interest is late 3rd- early 4th century A.D.; which is when the Roman mint in London was open.

but the reason most hoards seem to come from England is because England has the PAS-- Portable Antiquities Scheme

https://www.britishmuseum.org/our-work/national/treasure-and-portable-antiquities-scheme

When people find hoards in England, the government looks at the coins and decides if it is treasure and if so, fairly compensates the finder. Sometimes they might keep just a few noteworthy examples. If it is not treasure worthy, the coins are given back to the finder. The coins are always documented though and a record is available.

in some countries detectorists sell hoards with no documentation because their respective governments will merely seize them with no compensation.

other countries are exceedingly slow in releasing hoard details-- I am looking at you Libya. the Suk El Kedim hoard (treasure of Misurata) comprised 108,000 folles found in Libya in 1981, mostly from A.D. 294- 333. Details of this hoard have merely trickled out over the decades since it has been found.

 

Some wonderful coins, Victor. Were you able to hand-select each one from these hoards or did you just get what interested you, when they became available to the open market?

 

I buy them as they become available. For example, I have 7 coins from the Rauceby hoard because one of the finders listed his portion on eBay. I bought a large group of the Mildenhall coins after the family consigned them. I have 3 plate coins from the Bikić-Do Hoard and about 20 others that I suspect are also from the hoard. This was part of a large group of coins that had a few not in RIC from Siscia. I checked my reference for that hoard since it has lots of Siscia coins and discovered 3 of them in the plates. So the origin of these coins had been lost; but I was fortunate to recognize them.

 

That's good info thank you.

 

@Victor_Clark

 

Wonderful documentation of these hoards.

I just wish that the coins coming out of the Middle East and elsewhere had similar documentation, but the hoards are mostly located in conflict zones, so any hoard information is nonexistent.

 

Fantastic thread @Victor_Clark . You have some really fantastic hoard provenances in your collection. My only known hoard coin is this example from the East Harptree Hoard which was sold through Spink.

 

I really enjoyed this thread. The mostly vintage hoards give the coins a lot more context.

I'd like to find a stable, green as-found Diocletianic-era nummus sometime, but I'd have to get back into the uncleaned mood. One of these forums had an article about a French hoard of said coins and the befores looked so much more interesting, a relatively crud-free green (not BD) patina. A vcoins dealer had a very similar-looking one for sale but the price was higher than a regular nummus.

 

I bought a small group of coins from a seller in France from Lédenon; which is 216km from Lyons. Lédenon was already a city by Roman times and is named after the Gallic deity Letinno --‘the housing’. These coins were obviously found together and I have left them in their uncleaned state.

They are all from Lyons and the two soldiers types and Constantinopolis were struck circa A.D. 330's. The Crispus was struck a bit earlier around A.D. 324. The really interesting coin is the Sol; which was struck between A.D. 315- 316; almost 20 years before the youngest coin in the group -- ✶PLG was struck in A.D. 333- 334.

So the SOL coin would have been demonetized by the monetary reform of the VLPP in A.D. 318 and the two standard GE's would have been replaced by the A.D. 335 reform where the number of nummi to a pound was raised to 196. (According to Harl's "Coinage in the Roman Economy" the number of bronze coins per pound was 108 in A.D. 318- 330 and 132 for A.D. 330- 335...see chart below) The flans had to be made smaller to make more coins, so now there is only room for one standard. So these coins would seem to have been hidden away circa A.D. 335.




these are the original auction pics








here they are sitting in a tray along with a group of coins from Alexandria that I believe were hoarded together

 

Very nice! That's along the lines of what I'm looking for, but in a larger nummus. I wish that more of the better 'before' coins would be offered for sale. At least for common issues it's much more interesting that way.

I finally located the tetrarchal one, which has been on vcoins for a long time, but like they said in the movie 'Used Cars', "The price is..."