Ickham, Kent. England. Roman Coin Hoard

Discovered in 1973-1974

Ickham, Kent. England – A Treasure Trove of Roman Relics

The village of Ickham, nestled amidst the verdant Kentish countryside, has yielded a remarkable bounty of Roman artifacts. Extensive and meticulous excavations, undertaken in the years 1873 and 1874,  have unearthed a staggering 4,610 coins from the Roman era, alongside more than 3000 other curious objects.

Over half of these treasures were discovered upon the very surface by keen-eyed observers armed with those novel contraptions, the metal detectors. The remainder were retrieved from the earth's stratified embrace, though not all could be definitively linked to specific corners of the sprawling dig.

Mr. Ian Riddler, a scholar of numismatics, has pored over the coin collection and suggests the presence of hidden hoards within these scattered deposits. He writes, "Whether veritable hoards lay secreted within the soil or not, any notion of votive offerings seems improbable. Such rituals typically leave behind obsolete coinage of lesser worth, not the well-preserved groupings we have chanced upon. Rather, we bear witness to a multitude of ordinary transactions that transpired across this very site throughout the latter third and fourth centuries."

For further illumination regarding the finds, one may consult the learned ceramic report compiled by Mr. M. Lyne. Let us now enumerate the suspected hoards:

A possible hoard, largely composed of Valentinian coins, was hinted at by Mr. Riddler within the depths of Pit 115.

Pit 407 and its surroundings may well conceal another cache, given the preponderance of coinage from the era of Magnentius. Within this pit, curious lead pendants, akin to those found at Channel C, were also retrieved.

Other Deposits of Note:

Pits 107 and 115, which intersect Channel C, yielded a clutch of coins spanning several Roman reigns, up to that of Gratian. Curiously, fragments of querns or millstones were also found amongst the hoard.

From the depths of a timber-lined well (Feature 701), 23 coins surfaced. Mr. Riddler suspects a votive element here, as the presence of early coins within a primarily Theodosian collection is most peculiar.

Channel A, a watercourse of some note, has surrendered a most intriguing wooden figurine, reminiscent of those adorning continental shrines. Nearby lay a coin of Marcus Aurelius, leaden weights, and a smattering of fourth-century currency.

Feature 335, initially mistaken for a shrine due to the discovery of presumed animal remains, now stands revealed as a timber-lined pit or tank. Within lay lead waste, fragments of pottery, and various artifacts, though curiously, no coins were found.

South of Channel C lies a sizeable hollow (Pit 116) which harbored six Valentinian coins alongside shattered glass and fragments of querns.

Mr. Riddler surmises that other hoards undoubtedly lie concealed beneath the soil. Indeed, he writes: "Multitudes of coins, bearing the marks of the 330s and 340s, have been identified within the finds. Such similarity of type and wear suggests they may be 'purse hoards,' common currency accidentally lost and scattered by the passage of time."

The Ickham excavations have unveiled a rich tapestry interwoven with Roman history.  One can only wonder what further secrets this ancient landscape may yet reveal.