The largest haul of Roman coins from the early 4th Century AD ever found in Britain has been unearthed by two metal detector enthusiasts, it was revealed today.
The discovery was made near the village of Rauceby in Lincolnshire after the detectorists painstakingly searched the area for years.
The hoard, which consists of more than three thousand copper alloy coins, many of which are historically unique, is now being looked at The British Museum and is regarded as being of significant international importance.
Finder Rob Jones, a 59 year old Engineering teacher from Lincoln, and his friend Craig Paul, a 32 year old planner from Woodhall Spa, were speechless when they made the discovery in July 2017.
Rob commented: “Our metal detectors started making signal noises, prompting us to dig down and have a look.”
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I’ve found a few things before, but absolutely nothing on this scale. I was totally amazed. Finding the coins was the ultimate experience that we will never forget.
“It’s an incredibly humbling experience knowing that when you discover something like this, the last time someone touched it was nearly 2,000 year ago! I was completely flabbergasted!”
A full investigation of the site was then undertaken by Craig, Dr Adam Daubney, archaeologist at Lincolnshire County Council and Sam Bromage from the University of Sheffield. During the excavation another hoard of 10 coins was found.
Craig commented: “It was fantastic to join the excavation to see Adam and Sam in Action. To be there and see the pot appear out of the ground was really something. I never expected that there would be a second smaller hoard- that was just a bonus and really got us asking questions!”
Dr Daubney commented: “The coins were found in a ceramic pot, which was buried in the centre of a large oval pit – lined with quarried limestone. What we found during the excavation suggests to me that the hoard was not put in the ground in secret, but rather was perhaps a ceremonial or votive offering. The Rauceby hoard is giving us further evidence for so-called ‘ritual’ hoarding in Roman Britain.”
Dr Eleanor Ghey, Curator of Iron Age and Roman Coin Hoards at the British Museum, commented: “At the time of the burial of the hoard around AD 307, the Roman Empire was increasingly decentralised and Britain was once again in the spotlight following the death of the emperor Constantius in York. Roman coins had begun to be minted in London for the first time. As the largest fully recorded find of this date from Britain, it has great importance for the study of this coinage and the archaeology of Lincolnshire.”
The coins have today (9 May 2019) officially been declared treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 at Lincoln Coroner’s Court.
For more information about reporting finds in Lincolnshire, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
What ever must it feel like to find something like this? ……….. Not the ££££££s Just what a fantastic find! The age the thought that you stood or can go & stand where folk from all them centuries ago was there! Amazing!