SDO9904 - The Great Dorchester Hoard of 1936

Brief description of the circumstances of discovery and subsequent restoration, curation and dispersal of the Marks and Spencer's hoard in 1936. The hoard of 22, 000 coins, mainly Antoniniani, depsoited around 257 AD, was discovered by a workman in a pit in the garden of a large Roman building at the back of 48 South Street, Dorchester. The coins were contained in a bronze handled jug, a wide bronze basin and a wooden coopered item. After restoration and recording the coins were dispersed among the British Museum, Dorchester Museum, Portland Museum and the remainder sold to individuals in Dorchester. The article contains a long list of coin descriptions.