File:Roman Coin Hoard, Oswestry BM Cat No 109 (FindID 232170).jpg

Oswestry area II 2008 T526 A second group of 23 silver coins were found in September 2008 by the same finder scattered in the area of a depression about 50 to 80m from the first deposit. It is not clear if this group is part of the first group or was originally a distinct deposit. The dates of the coins are within those of the first group, which was disturbed to a limited extent by ploughing. However, Peter Reavill, who has examined the site, is of the opinion that these coins should be considered as a separate group due to the distance between them and their findspot distribution.

The groups are kept separate in the summary which follows.

The Coins: All of the coins are Roman silver coins of a denomination known as the denarius (plural denarii). The earliest coins in Group I were four Roman Republican denarii of Mark Antony dating to 32-31 BC; the latest coins in both groups were of Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180) who died in AD 176.

In terms of composition this group of coins is consistent with other hoards of this period. The coins can be summarised as follows:

Summary: Group I Group II Mark Antony (32-31 BC) 4 - Nero (AD 54-68) 1 1 Otho (AD 69) - 1 Vespasian (AD 69-79) 10 4 Vespasian or Titus Caesar 1 - Titus (AD 79-81) 3 1 Divus Vespasianus 2 - Domitian (AD 81-96) 7 1 Uncertain Flavian emperor 1 - Trajan (AD 98-117) 24 (inc. 1 mint of Lycia) 6 Hadrian (AD 117-138) 13 2 Aelius Caesar 1 - Sabina 1 - Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) 11 1 Diva Faustina I 3 1 Faustina II 2 - Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180) 4 - Divus Antoninus 2 1 Faustina II 3 1 Lucius Verus 2 - Lucilla 2 - Uncertain Emperor - 3 Unidentifiable fragments 3 - Total 97 (+ 3 fragments) 23 The Iron Nail The iron nail is fragmentary and not diagnostic in date.

Metal Content and Age: The coins satisfy the terms of the Treasure Act with regard to age, quantity and metal content. They are certainly more than 300 years old and all have precious metal contents far in excess of the 10% threshold. Same find? The coins in both groups could have circulated together in the second century AD. The Republican denarii are very worn and of a type commonly found in later hoards. Composition and the circumstances of discovery, as reported, would therefore suggest that these coins formed either one hoard or two distinct deposits buried at a similar date.

Recommendation: Given their age and metal content, and the circumstances of burial, I would conclude that these coins should be regarded as a prima facie case of treasure under the terms of the Treasure Act (1996).