Find Spot record MDO19173 - Roman coin found near Dorchester South Station

'One of the Society's junior members, William Jehan, obtained an ancient bronze coin from a Weymouth collector in 1961, which he subsequently brought to the attention of Mr. R.N.R. Peers. Its history prior to 1961 remains somewhat obscure despite Mr. Jehan's efforts, but a note accompanying it, which there is no reason to suspect, stated that it was found in the earth about 1952 in demolishing or repaiiring a building 'near Dorchester South Railway Station'.

The coin has been examined by Mr. Derek Allen, who states, 'I think it is a coin of Belgic Gaul…I am practically sure it is overstruck. The obverse is a head to right. The reverse is probably a horse or some other beast to right, which might have a head turned back; but much of the coin is obliterated by the overstruck type, which, as far as can be made out, appears to be another head, this time to left, with an arm curving round in front of the face, holding some object.' He adds, 'A head with an arm like this does occur in some Gaulish coins, but the hand holds a carnyx. Nothing similar is recorded in Britain…Such coins in Gaul generally belong to the third quarter of the 1st century BC or thereabouts…'(1)

<1> Farrar, R A H (ed ), 1966, Archaeological Notes and News for 1965; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1965, 109 (Article in serial). SDO10107.

Record last edited

Oct 31 2013 11:23AM