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26.03.2021

Shapwick Hoard

The Shapwick Treasure is a remarkable collection of 9,262 Roman coins discovered in Shapwick, Somerset, England, in September 1998. These coins date back to various periods, ranging from as early as 31-30 B.C. to 224 A.D. Notably, the hoard contained two rare coins previously unseen in Britain and the largest number of silver denarii ever found in the country.

The discovery was made by cousins Kevin and Martin Elliott, who were amateur metal detector enthusiasts. They located the hoard in a field in Shapwick. Subsequent excavations revealed that the coins were buried in the corner of a room within a previously unknown Roman building. Further investigations, including geophysical studies, confirmed that this room was part of a villa within a courtyard.

Following an official investigation in Taunton, the treasure was declared as such and valued at £265,000. The Somerset County Museum Service acquired the collection with support from Somerset County Council, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and other organizations. Today, the Shapwick Treasure is on display at the Somerset Museum located on the grounds of Tonton Castle.

Additionally, a supplement to the discovery was documented in the Treasure Annual Report 2000, which included an additional 23 coins found by Kevin and Martin Elliott, with a combined value of £690.

Noteworthy inclusions in the hoard were 260 coins dating from the reign of Mark Antony in 31-30 B.C., with more than half of them minted during the rule of Septimius Severus (193-211). Among the coins, there were two particularly rare ones, depicting Manlia Scantilla, the wife of Didius Julian, an emperor who was assassinated just four weeks after their coins were minted.

The collection also featured coins from different regions, such as three Lycian drachmas and one drachma from Caesarea in Cappadocia. The most recent coin in the hoard was minted in 224 A.D., and it is assumed that the collection as a whole represents a decade's worth of payment for a Roman legionary.

Shapwick Hoard

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