HOARD (ROMAN)

"This hoard of 249 Roman denarii, dating from c. 149 BC to the reign of Tiberius, was found approximately 400 metres north west of the Iron Age hill fort at Membury and approximately 1 km south of the Roman road from London to Wales by way of Silchester and Cirencester. The hoard was declared Treasure Trove at an Inquest held at Swindon on 13th January 1989.

The coins were recovered with the aid of a metal detector by Mr Douglas Wilson on a number of occasions from 11th May 1988. They were found on the border between an open ploughed area and a grain crop and were scattered over an area of approximately 20 by 10 yards down to a depth of 13 inches. About 150 of the coins came from a central area measuring about 2 feet by 2 feet. It is likely that the original hoard has not been recovered in its entirety but there is no reason to think that a significant number of coins remains in the ground. Eight fragments of local Savernake ware were found in the central area but it is unclear whether they are to be associated with the hoard or not. The fragments came from more than one vessel and did not show signs of recent breakage. They were of a type which began to be produced in the period immediately after the Roman conquest and continued to be important throughout the first century and into the second. Such fragments are found widely scattered in the general area, although Mr Wilson informed us that he had not noticed any other fragments in the immediate vicinity of the hoard..

The hoard consisted of the following:

Roman Republic c.150-100 BC 38

c.100-50 BC 75

c.50-31 BC 67

Augustus 31 BC - AD 14 33

Tiberius AD 14 - 37 36


Total 249

"A full photographic record of the coins and the pottery, together with detailed information on the circumstances of the find, have been deposited in the archives of the Herberden Coin Room and the Department of Coins and Medals in the British Museum.

C J Howgego and C E King, in CHRBIX, 11-19, types, weights. Addenda of 3 silver denarii to Caligula.

Parish: Restricted Access
District: Wiltshire
County: Wiltshire
Region: South West
Place known as: Membury
Discovery method: Metal detector
Notes: 
Images in BM file.