West Bagborough Hoard
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51°05′N 3°11′W / 51.09°N 3.18°W
| West Bagborough Hoard | |
|---|---|
 Coins from the West Bagborough Hoard on display at the Museum of Somerset | |
| 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.
Discovery, excavation and valuation[edit]
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[edit]
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 | No. 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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Aroil 4th News". History Today. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- ^ a b c "The West Bagborough Hoard". Newsletter Spring/Summer 2003. Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Grants Listing: Towns & Cities S-Z". Purchase Grant Fund. Victoria and Albert Museum. Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- ^ "Policeman digs up clues to ancient crime". BBC. 4 April 2002. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- ^ "Roman coin hoard, West Bagborough". Somerset Historic Environment Record. Somerset County Council. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- ^ "Analysis of Coin Hoards from Roman Britain". FORVM Ancient Coins. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
- ^ "196 West Bagborough, Somerset: 669 Roman silver coins" (PDF). Treasure Annual Report 2001. Department for Culture, Media and Sport. p. 97. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 September 2013.