The BBC News website has a report today about a coroner’s inquest in Norwich into the status of some gold coins issued by the Emperor Augustus, who died in 14, through the mint at Lyons which had ended up in Iceni territory in Britain before the Roman conquest under Claudius after 43. Probably intended for the manufacture of torques they have been scattered by agricultural work and the hoard is gradually being recovered by responsible metal detectorists. The coins themselves are in very good condition and, declared to be treasure trove, are safe for the nation. The discovery clearly points to contact or inter-action between the British tribes and the Empire through trade or raids in the reign of Augustus or in the years following his death.
The article is well illustrated and the expert interviewed, Adrian Marsden, is an old acquaintance of mine from Oxford days. He is quite often cited as East Anglia continues to yield numismatic finds of this type. The article can be read at 'Exceptional' Roman gold coin hoard found
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