West Bagborough Hoard

West Bagborough Hoard
Material Silver and hacksilver coins
Size 681 coins
Period/culture Romano-British
Discovered Near West Bagborough, Somerset, by James Hawkesworth in October 2001
Present location Somerset County Museum, Taunton
Identification 2001 (Fig 196)

The West Bagborough Hoard is a hoard of 670 Roman coins and 72 pieces of hacksilver found in October 2001 by metal detectorist James Hawkesworth near West Bagborough in Somerset, England.

Contents

Discovery, excavation and valuation

The hoard was discovered by metal detectorist James Hawkesworth, a policeman from Bishops Lydeard.[1] No trace of buildings or other structures were found in the area.

Following a treasure inquest at Taunton, the hoard was declared treasure and valued at £40,650. Somerset County Museum Services acquired the hoard, with the aid of Somerset County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund,[2] and £16,400 from the Victoria and Albert Museum/Resource Purchase Grant Fund.[3] It is now displayed at the Museum of Somerset in the grounds of Taunton Castle.[2]

Items discovered

The 681 coins included two denarii from the early 2nd century and eight miliarense and 671 siliqua all dating from the period AD 337 – 367, but including a large number of copies some silver and others from a copper alloy covered with silver sheet.[4] The latest coins indicate that the hoard was buried in circa AD 365. The majority were struck in the reigns of emperors Constantius II and Julian and derive from a range of mints including Arles and Lyons in France, Trier in Germany and Rome.[2] There were also 64 pieces of hacksilver,[5] weighing a total of 722gm.[6][7]

Reign Date № of coins
Trajan 98-117 one
Marcus Aurelius 139-161 one
2nd century denarii two
Constantius II 307-363 603
Valentinian period 364-392 12
Uncertain 52

See also

References

  1. ^ "Aroil 4th News". History Today. http://www.historytoday.com/MainArticle.aspx?m=18275&amid=18275. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c "The West Bagborough Hoard". Newsletter Spring/Summer 2003. Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. http://www.sanhs.org/Newsletter67.htm#WestBag. Retrieved 10 July 2010. 
  3. ^ "Grants Listing: Towns & Cities S-Z". Purchase Grant Fund. Victoria and Albert Museum. http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/p/purchase-grant-fund-past-grants-s-z/. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
  4. ^ "Policeman digs up clues to ancient crime". BBC. 2002-04-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1910873.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
  5. ^ "Roman coin hoard, West Bagborough". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15127. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
  6. ^ "Analysis of Coin Hoards from Roman Britain". FORVM Ancient Coins. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/historia/hoards/coin_hoards.htm. Retrieved 11 July 2010. 
  7. ^ "196 West Bagborough, Somerset: 669 Roman silver coins". Treasure Annual Report 2001. Department for Culture, Media and Sport. p. 99. http://www.ncmd.co.uk/docs/treasurereport2001.pdf.