Roman Coins and Artefacts

This hoard, found during building work in 1985, represents part of the stock of a jeweller working in the area in the second century AD. There are 110 coins in the hoard, 83 silver and 27 bronze. The silver coins (mostly denarii of Domitian) were almost certainly being melted down for conversion into jewellery. All the engraved gems (117) are of carnelian. In the British Museum. October 2007.

Found at Field Baulk, March, Cambridgeshire (1982). This hoard consists of 872 silver coins of the Iron Age Iceni tribe of East Anglia, and is the the largest single Icenian find yet known. The coins were contained in the globular pot, which was probably made sometime between AD 50 and 70. The hoard was hidden below ground, in a settlement, and the reason for its concealment may have been the troubled times of AD 60-61, when Queen Boudica led a tribal revolt against the newly-established Roman rulers. In the British Museum. October 2007.

A brass sestertius of the Emperor Hadrian, found in the River Tyne. It shows little wear and is in immaculate condition, being preserved under the silt of the river bed. Approximate minting date: AD132 to 134. Seen at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North east England.

This Roman gold coin of Claudius was discovered in India and may have been used in the trade for spices or gems. The vertical chisel mark was probably made to test the quality of the metal. From the 'Roman Empire - Power and People' exhibition, Segedunum Roman Fort, North East England.

Part of a hoard of gold aurei discovered in Corbridge. British Museum, London. April 2013.

These form part of the Selby Hoard, which consists of 201 silver denarii found together with two pottery beakers in Selby, Yorkshire. They date from between 69AD and 180AD. From the 'Roman Empire - Power and People' exhibition, Segedunum Roman Fort, North East England.

Top - Gold solidus of Valentian (I, II or III, not sure which) Second row - Aureus of Nero and Vespasian Below - Aureus of Marcus Aurelius Bottom right - Coin of Hadrian (size of a denarius but appears to be bronze). In the Yorkshire Museum, York.

The silver pan was probably the container for most of the objects of the Backworth Hoard. The decorated handle has a gold-inlaid inscription in Latin reading MATR.FAB DVBIT, signifying that it was a gift from Fabius Dubitatus to the Mothers (Mother godesses). From the Backworth Hoard. On loan from the British Museum, at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North East England.

From the Backworth Hoard. On loan from the British Museum, at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North East England.

A hoard of gold and silver objects was found in 1812, supposedly near Backworth in North East England. The hoard consisted of a silver skillet in which were a pair of silver-gilt trumpet brooches, one silver and five gold rings, one gold bracelet, two gold chains with wheel-shaped pendant, and a crescent attached, three silver spoons, another silver skillet, 280+ Roman denarii, and two first brass coins of Antoninus Pius. A white bronze mirror had served as a cover. The date of deposition is thought likely to be AD140. The larger skillet and one of the gold rings each have an inscription, a dedication to the mother-goddesses. These inscriptions indicate that the treasure was probably a votive deposit at a shrine of the Mother-goddesses near the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. On loan from the British Museum, at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North East England.

A hoard of gold and silver objects was found in 1812, supposedly near Backworth in North East England. The hoard consisted of a silver skillet in which were a pair of silver-gilt trumpet brooches, one silver and five gold rings, one gold bracelet, two gold chains with wheel-shaped pendant, and a crescent attached, three silver spoons, another silver skillet, 280+ Roman denarii, and two first brass coins of Antoninus Pius. A white bronze mirror had served as a cover. The date of deposition is thought likely to be AD140. The larger skillet and one of the gold rings each have an inscription, a dedication to the mother-goddesses. These inscriptions indicate that the treasure was probably a votive deposit at a shrine of the Mother-goddesses near the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. On loan from the British Museum, at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North East England.

From the Backworth Hoard. On loan from the British Museum, at Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North East England.

In the Yorkshire Museum, York.

At Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North East England.

At Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, North East England.

At Housesteads Roman Fort Museum. September 2012.

Sardonyx cameo Portrait of the emperor Claudius (AD 41-54) in military dress. Made in AD 41-49. British Museum, London. April 2013.

Three-layered sardonyx cameo - portrait of Augustus wearing the aegis of Minerva and a sword-belt. The emperor originally wore a laurel wreath. This was replaced, probably in the medieval period, with the current setting. About AD14-20. British Museum, London. April 2013.