File:HOARD (FindID 965978-1067899).jpg

A hoard of four Roman silver denarii deposited during or after the middle of the 2nd century AD (AD 141-161) and recovered with an incomplete trumpet brooch of similar date (see record SUSS-BFED63).  

1. A silver denarius minted in Rome, Italy under the authority of Trajan and dated from AD 112-117, cf RIC II, Trajan 308, 315, 318 or 320. 

Obverse: Illegible. (Bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right).

Reverse: [… CO]S V P P S P Q R //FORT RED (Fortuna, draped, veiled, seated left on chair without back, holding rudder set on ground in right hand and cornucopiae in left).

Dimensions: Diameter 19.51mm, thickness 2.01mm, weight 2.31g.

2. A silver denarius minted in Rome Italy under the authority of Trajan and dated to AD 103-111; RIC II, Trajan 115 (bust var.), BMC 271. 

Obverse: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P (Head of Trajan, laureate, right, with drapery on left shoulder).

Reverse: COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC (Roma, helmeted, in military dress, standing left, holding Victory in right hand and vertical spear in left).

Dimensions: Diameter 18.04mm, thickness 1.79, weight 2.69g.

3. Description: A silver denarius of Faustina I (Faustina the elder) minted in Rome, Italy under the authority of Antoninus Pius and dated to AD 141-161, RIC III Antoninus Pius 395c. 

Obverse: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA (Bust of Faustina I, draped, right, hair elaborately waved in several loops round head and drawn up and coiled on top).

Reverse: PIETAS AVG (Pietas, veiled, draped, standing left, with right hand dropping incense on lighted candelabrum and holding box in left hand). 

Dimensions: Diameter 18.21mm, thickness 2.50mm, weight 2.84g.

4. Fragment of silver denarius of unknown mint, date and issue. Possibly Faustina I (cf RIC 362?).

Obverse: […]A […] (Bust of unidentified empress, right).  

Reverse: […]GV […]. (Standing figure with vertical torch or sceptre in right hand)

Dimensions: Length 12.76, 7.56mm, weight 0.58g.

Discussion: Hoards of Roman coins are common throughout the period, though they are more prevalent during the later 3rd and 4th century AD, which makes this specific example an interesting case. It is commonly thought that coins were buried during times of economic or political upheaval and that the intention was for later recovery. It has also been suggested that, in some instances, their owners did not try to recover them as the coins became difficult to exchange following monetary reform. There is also the possibility that ritualised votive practices could provide an explanation. The addition of brooches into coin hoards is not unusual and there is some discussion with regards to whether these were considered as equivalent to coins for ritual depositional purposes, especially during the earlier Roman period. The addition of this hoard into treasure adds to the data that we currently have for equivalent or similar incidents of such hoards and offers the possibility for more nuanced and holistic research into the social and economic conditions that existed during this period.