Find Spot record MDO29965 - Stray Roman coin discoveries from Dorchester

Stray finds of Roman coins dating from the first to fourth centuries have been found 'in Dorchester'. Their exact provenance within the town is not known.

A number of Roman coins have been found in Dorchester from the nineteenth century onwards, which have been donated to, or recorded by Dorset County Museum. No precise findspot for these coins is known and they are all recorded as 'from Dorchester'. The coins are listed below:

1. Denarius of Trajan (AD98-117), given by Mr Martin. (1)
2. Third Brass of Macrinus, given by Mr S Wills. (1)
3. Coin of Nero (AD54-68). Obverse: IMP NERO CAESAR AUG PP. Reverse: S.C. S.P.Q.R. (on globe). (2)
4. Coin of Trajan (AD98-117). Obverse: IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AUG GER DAC (Germanicus Dacicus) PP. COS VII (?VI). Reverse: S.P.Q.R. (OPTIMO) PRINCIPI. SC (2)
5. Two coins of Constantius (AD324-330). Obverse: … CONSTANTIUS Reverse: PROVIDENTIA PTR (TREVES Trevirorum) (Pretorian gate). (2)
6. Coin of Constantine I (AD307-318). Obverse: CONSTANTINUS PF AUG Reverse: … PLG (Lugdunum (Lyon)). (2)
7. Coin of Constantine I (AD307-318). Obverse: IMP CONSTANTINUS Reverse: SOLI INVICTO COMITI PTR (Trevirorum (Treves)). (2)
8. Coin of Constantine I (AD307-318). Obverse: IMP CONSTANTINUS Reverse: SOLI INVICTO COMITI PLN (Londinium). (2)
9. Third Brass coin of Carausius (AD287-293). Obverse: IMP CARAUSIUS P.F. AUG. Bust to right. Reverse: PAS AUG Figure of AEQUITAS with scales. (3)(4)
10. Third Brass coin of Carausius (AD287-293), Obverse IMP C CARAUSIUS P.F. AUG. Bust to right. Reverse: PAX AUG. Peace standing holding a flower in her right hand and the hasta pura in the left. M L London mint. (3)(4)
11. Third Brass coin of Allectus (AD293-296), Obverse IMP C ALLECTUS P.F. AUG. Reverse: VIRTUS AUG. in exergue 4th officinae. London mint. (3)(4)
12. Second Brass coin of Antoninus Pius 'from Dorchester' presented to Dorset County Museum by Mr J Scriven. (5)
13. Third Brass coin of Victorinus 'from Dorchester' presented to Dorset County Museum by Mr W Dunning. (5)
14. A small Roman coin of Julian, AD363, found in Dorchester. (6)

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1899, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, xxxi (Serial). SDO13.

<2> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1923, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1920-1921, xlviii-xlix (Serial). SDO28.

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1932, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1931, 51-2 (Serial). SDO35.

These four 3rd Brass coins of the period 287-296 when Britain was reuled as an Independent Kingdom by Carausius 287-193 and after his murder, by Allectus 293-296, are interesting as being the first Roman coins struck in Britain.
1. Ob. IMP CARAUSIUS P.F. AUG. Bust to right. Rev. PAS AUG Figure of AEQUITAS with scales. This is interesting from the spelling PAS intended for the usual PAX, and instead of the figure of PEACE holding a flower and the hasta pura, the figure of Justice is represented, a rather uncommon mistake of the die sinker.
2. Ob. IMP C CARAUSIUS P.F. AUG. Bust of Allectus to right. Another mistake in making the die : comaring this with the usual likeness of Carausius, the error is obvious. Rev. PAX AUG. Peace standing holding a flower in her right hand and hasta pura in the left. M L London Mint.
3. Ob. IMP C ALLECTUS P.F. AUG. Rev. as No. 2; but C in exergue Colchester Mint, this coin in mint condition and was found in the Bridport Road allotments.

<4> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1927, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1926-1927, lx (Serial). SDO13162.

<5> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1904, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club for 1903, xlix (Serial). SDO16.

<6> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1915, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Field Club, xlvii (Serial). SDO24.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:39PM