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Discovering Roman coins with Eirini

Alice Pattillo, 5 April 2018

Hello everyone, my name’s Eirini and I am a student intern in the Archaeology and Numismatics department at NMW, Cardiff. This post is the second in my series of blogs on the numismatics collection at the Museum. Last time I took a look at the collection of Ancient Greek coins and this week I am back to examine the Roman coin collection.

While the Ancient Greeks never set foot in Wales, the Romans invaded in AD 48 so there have been a great deal of Roman coins found and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. Here are a few of my favourites from the collections.

Hoard of silver denarii found in Wick, Vale of Glamorgan (c. AD 165)

The 2 oldest coins date back to the Republic and are both coins of Mark Anthony while the rest date to the Empire. The front side of all of the Empire coins have portraits of an emperor, ranging from Nero (AD 54-68) to Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180).

The most interesting aspect of this coin hoard is the variety of reverse designs on them! There are many coins dating to the reigns of Vespasian (AD 69-79) and Trajan (AD 98-117). These coins predominately feature deities and personifications on their reverse sides. Some examples of the deities featured include Jupiter, Hercules and Mars. One design that sticks out to me is the personification of peace (Pax) holding an olive branch, sceptre and cornucopia (a horn that symbolises abundance). Other personifications include Pietas (duty) and Felicitas (good fortune).

There is an extensive variety of other reverse types on the coins including representations of the emperor and his family, types of military conquest and victories, legionary types, geographical imagery, architecture, animals and propaganda.

I like how varied the imagery is on these Roman coins as later coins found in Sully (c. AD 320), Bridgend (c. AD 310) and Llanbethery (c. AD 350) as well as our modern coins tend to have the same, repeated imagery on their reverse.

Sully Hoard of copper-alloy coins (c. AD 320)

This hoard is one of the largest hoards of Roman coins found in Wales. An incredible 5913 coins were discovered in two locations, 3 metres apart in the South Wales coastal village of Sully.

The latest coins from this collection all have the same reverse design regardless of where they were minted, from London to Rome –they represent an early single currency with a standardised design not found in the earlier hoards.

However, the designs on these coins are more crude and less detailed than the earlier Roman finds.

Tagged with

Collections & Research  Community Engagement  General  Learning   Museums, Exhibitions and Events  Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS Cymru) 

Comments (2)

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Evan Chapman, Senior Curator: Archaeology Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales Staff
26 January 2021, 10:56
Dear Richard,

The Sully hoard(s) are not currently on display but images of a number of the coins can be seen on the Museum’s website. This also includes a number of coins from the hoard found back in 1899 and shared, at the time, with the British Museum. Further items from this hoard can be found on the British Museum’s website.

There is also information about all three hoards on the Portable Antiquities Scheme Website.

I hope this is of some assistance.

Yours,

Evan
Richard Taylor
24 January 2021, 10:19
Hello,
A very interesting piece. Thank you. Year 3 at our local school in Sully have been looking at the Romans and I have been working with our next door neighbours children showing them some of the Roman things that are local to us and came across the Sully hoard. I know is not possible to visit but can you tell me if it is on display at the museum and Is there any more information about the discovery?
Thank you.
Richard.