The largest coin hoard from Roman Britain


The Cunetio Hoard
The Cunetio Hoard
Copyright: https://www.wiltshiremuseum.org.uk/


In the year of our Lord 1978, a remarkable treasure was unearthed at the site of the ancient Roman town of Cunetio, near Mildenhall in the county of Wiltshire. A hoard of no less than 54,951 coins, a cache unparalleled in all of Britannia's Roman past, was brought to light. The coins now reside under the careful guardianship of the esteemed British Museum, whilst the humble earthenware vessel that once concealed them stands on proud display at the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes.

These coins, known as the Cunetio hoard, were interred within a large ceramic jar and a leaden box. The majority of the coins are base silver radiates, struck in great quantities before their burial circa 274 Anno Domini.

Though the denarius had fallen largely out of favour by the time of the hoard's concealment, a surprising number of these older silver coins were discovered amidst the trove.  Curiously, it appears the Cunetio hoard, like that of Beau Street found in Bath, was carefully sorted before entombment. Alack, the hoard was disturbed before meticulous study could be undertaken, and so the precise arrangement of coins within their containers remains a tantalising mystery.  Sadly, those who unearthed the hoard with their metal detectors failed to declare their remarkable discovery. A hurried archaeological operation followed, with one notable participant being Mr. Phil Harding, who would later achieve renown as a presenter of the 'Time Team'.

The very location of the hoard's interment, just outside the walls of Cunetio, offers a clue as to why it was buried. In the twilight years of Rome's dominion, the town was heavily fortified, hinting that it perhaps played an official role, possibly in the gathering of taxes. Furthermore, it is a common observance that temples are often situated near the approach to a town. Channel 4's esteemed 'Time Team' excavated an area close to the hoard's discovery in 2009, findings of which suggest the presence of a temple complex.

In the month of August, 2018, the ceramic jar and one hundred of its former contents were reunited at the Wiltshire Museum for the first time since their disinterment.  This marked a momentous occasion, preceding the display in the British Museum's travelling exhibition 'Hoards: The Hidden History of Ancient Britain'. This exhibition premiered at Salisbury Museum in the Autumn of 2018 and subsequently embarked on a tour of the nation.  This collaboration represents the first loan from the British Museum to the Wiltshire Museum. The Savernake Ware vessel underwent fresh conservation treatment by the skilled hands of Ms. Pieta Greaves of Drakon Heritage & Conservation, ensuring its readiness for this celebrated exhibition.

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