3601) Did You Know Series (94): A Roman Coin Hoard Unearthed in Worcestershire, United Kingdom: The find includes 1,368 coins, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the region’s history during Emperor Nero's reign:

3601) Did You Know Series (94): A Roman Coin Hoard Unearthed in Worcestershire, United Kingdom: The find includes 1,368 coins, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the region’s history during Emperor Nero's reign: 

A buried treasure unearthed in Worcestershire reveals a dazzling hoard of Roman silver and a rare Iron Age gold stater, shining a light on the area's history.

The treasure consists of 1,368 Iron Age and Roman coins.

A hoard of coins dating back to the Roman period has been discovered during construction in Worcestershire. The find includes 1,368 coins, offering an extraordinary glimpse into the region’s history during Emperor Nero's reign. It is expected to be valued at more than £100,000. 

According to the Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums, the Worcestershire hoard was unearthed in late 2023 in the Leigh and Bransford area, west of Worcester. The hoard contains the largest collection of coins from Nero's reign, alongside a rare Iron Age gold stater minted by the local Dobunni tribe. 

Most of the coins are silver denarii, which span from the Roman Republic in 157 BC to Nero’s reign between AD 54 and 68. 

These coins would have been widely circulated during the early Roman Empire, reflecting local and imperial economies. The single gold stater, minted between AD 20 and 45, predates the Roman conquest of Britain and is linked to the Dobunni, a Celtic tribe known for their distinctive coinage and cooperative relationship with Rome.  

This single gold stater, minted between AD 20 and 45, predates the Roman conquest of Britain and is linked to the Dobunni.

The Dobunni Tribe: 

The Dobunni were one of the first British tribes to mint their own coins, adopting and adapting the practices of continental Europe. 

Their coin designs often featured stylised depictions of animals, abstract patterns, and symbols of power, reflecting the tribe's artistic sensibilities and societal values. 

Unlike Roman coins, which frequently bore the likeness of emperors, Dobunni coins were less focussed on individual rulers and more about tribal identity and connection to the natural world. 

According to Dr. Murray Andrews, a lecturer in British archaeology at University College London, the discovery is "remarkable." "It's the most miraculous thing I've seen over the last 100 years, an important piece of archaeology." he said. "It tells us about what was happening here 2000 years ago, when the Malvern hills were maybe the boundary of the Roman Empire." 

Archaeologists believe the hoard was buried during the first century AD, potentially representing the wealth of a prosperous local landowner or farmer. 

One theory suggests it may have been the savings of someone who profited from supplying the Roman army with grain or livestock. The collection was stored in a ceramic vessel, which may have been produced at pottery kilns near Malvern Hills. 

After being declared treasure in mid-2024, efforts began to secure the funds necessary for the hoard’s acquisition and public display. 

Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums aims to raise £6,000 to contribute toward its purchase, with additional funding sought through grants. If successful, the hoard will remain in the county, providing an invaluable resource for understanding local heritage and Roman Britain. 

The discovery follows two other notable coin hoards found in Worcestershire over the past 25 years, including the Bredon Hill hoard of 3,784 coins uncovered in 2011. 

Karen May, chair of Worcestershire County Council’s joint museums committee, called the latest find “a fantastic piece of Worcestershire’s heritage,” emphasising its importance for future generations.