Largest hoard of Roman coins ever found in Britain

The copper alloy coin, called a nummus was struck in 332 AD at the mint of Lyon (Gaul). It shows the personification of Constantinopolis on the obverse and a Victory on prow on the reverse. This very common type was struck by Constantine the Great across the Empire to celebrate the inauguration of the new city of Constantinople, which was to become the capital of the Eastern Empire. 

The Museum said ‘The hoard is the largest of its kind found in Britain’ and is the biggest success story of its Portable Antiquities Scheme, set up in 1997 to provide a record of all the finds brought in by members of the public. 

The Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery in Exeter has now launched a campaign to raise money to buy the collection and appealed to the public to donate. Laurence Egerton, 51, a semi-retired builder from East Devon, discovered two ancient coins ‘the size of a thumbnail’ buried near the surface of a field with his metal detector in November last year. 

Ed Vaizey, minister of State for culture said ‘The one millionth find recorded represents an incredible landmark’. The hoard of 22,000 copper-alloy coins was found near the previously excavated site of a Roman villa at Honeyditches in East Devon in November 2013. Realising the significance of the discovery, and that much of it was in situ, the finder (Laurence Egerton) immediately contacted the landowner (Clinton Devon Estates), as well as Danielle Wootton (Devon Finds Liaison Officer, based at the University of Exeter) and Bill Horner (County Archaeologist). This prompt and responsible action ensured the coins were properly excavated and allowed for the later recording of the hoard and its context at the British Museum. Seaton Down is the largest hoard of coins of the 4th century AD from Britain to have been properly recorded through the PAS and was declared Treasure earlier this month. 

It appears that the coins were buried together as a single group in a small isolated pit, the lozenge-shaped form of the coin deposit suggests the coins were buried in a flexible container, perhaps a fabric or soft leather bag, though this has not survived. 

The combined weight of the coins is 68 kg and they have been lightly cleaned at the British Museum prior to valuation under the Treasure Act 1996. The coins range from the late AD 260s to the AD 340s, a period of much turmoil in Roman Britain. Around 99% of the hoard is nummi, common coins struck between AD 330 and AD 341. The group terminates in AD 347-8 during the joint reign of Constantius II and his younger brother Constans, sons of Constantine I. Constans was the last legitimate emperor to visit Britain. 

The Museum said ‘The scale of the hoard is remarkable. This is one of the largest hoards ever found within the whole Roman Empire.