The Shapwick Coin Hoard

Whilst metal detecting at Shapwick, Somerset, in September 1998, cousins
Martin and Kevin Elliott discovered the largest hoard of Roman silver denarii
ever found in Britain. Excavation of the findspot by Somerset County Council archaeologists established that the 9,238 coins had been buried in the
corner of a room of a previously unknown Roman building. Subsequent
fieldwalking, geophysical survey by English Heritage (below) and excavation
revealed the room to be part of a courtyard villa.

The hoard was taken to the British Museum for cleaning, identification
and listing.

A group of coins prior to cleaning. A quantity of coins after cleaning by the British Museum's conservation department.

The coins range in date from Mark Antony (32-31 BC) to emperor Severus
Alexander (AD 222 - 235). The hoard was buried in about AD 224. Seventy
five per cent of the coins date to the Severan dynasty (post AD 193) and
are in remarkable condition. The vast majority of the coins are from the
mint of Rome. Exceptions are the coins of Mark Antony, which were
probably struck at a mint travelling with his legions in Greece and a
proportion of the Severan coins struck in Syria or Alexandria. Many
emperors, famous and infamous, and family members appear on the
coins. The reverses depict an enormous range of classical gods,
goddesses, personifications, battle victories, imperial events and
journeys and public works.

A Aesculapius, god of medicine and healing, reflects Caracalla's concern
over his health B Salus, goddess of health and welfare, feeding a snake
on a coin of Severus C Venus, goddess of love and beauty, on a coin of
Julia Domna D Diana, goddess of the moon, riding in a chariot on the
reverse of a denarius of Julia Domna E Roma, the personification of Rome,
on a coin of Elagabalus F Hispania (Spain), one of a series representing
the provinces of the Roman Empire on denarii of Hadrian G Mars, god of
war, carrying a spear and trophy on a coin of Elagabalus H Coin of
Severus with Neptune, god of the sea, holding a trident ISailing ship
with gangway to the ground and surrounded by birds, a lion, tigers, a
stag and bull. It marks a public event held in the amphitheatre in Rome
in AD 202 J Coin struck to emphasise Septimius Severus's generosity
in providing entertainment for the people of Rome KGalley with seven
rowers and a pilot on a coin of Elagabalus. The reverse legend reads
FELICITAS TEMP (happy or prosperous times) L Denarius of Antoninus
Pius struck in AD 158 - 9 to mark the completion of the restoration of
the temple of Augustus and Livia.

The hoard represented a very considerable sum of money in the early 3rd
century - the equivalent of ten years pay for a Roman legionary. Who
buried the coins and why they were not retrieved will never be known.

Following a Treasure Inquest in Taunton, the hoard was valued and
acquired in it's entirety by Somerset County Museums Service for the
sum of £265,000. Generous grants were received from Somerset County
Council, National Heritage Memorial Fund, National Art Collections Fund
and Resource/V&A Purchase Grant Fund.

Acquisition of the hoard provides a wonderful addition to the archaeology
display at the Somerset County Museum and the coins will be of
tremendous value to future numismatic studies.

A popular booklet called 'The Shapwick Treasure' has been
published which provides an account of the discovery of the hoard,
it's content and importance.