COIN (ROMAN)
A copper-alloy Roman Republican semuncia of anonymous issuer, dating to the period c.217-215 BC (Reece period 1). Obverse: Draped female bust right wearing turreted crown. Reverse: Horseman right holding whip in right hand and reins in left, ROMA below. Mint of Rome. As RRC, p. 150, no. 39/5.

Republican period bronze coinage is extremely rare in Britain, with fewer than ten examples securely identified on the PAS database. If a genuine ancient find, this is the first semuncia on the PAS.

Measurements: 20.11mm in diameter, 2.78mm thick and 4.61g in weight.
Ruler: Republic
Moneyer: Anonymous
Denomination: Uncia (Roman Republic)
Material: Copper alloy
Obverse: Draped female bust right wearing turreted crown
Reverse: Horseman right holding whip in right hand and reins in left, ROMA below
Reverse legend: ROMA
Dated: -217.0 to -215.0
Weight (g): 4.61
Diameter (mm): 20.11
Thickness (mm): 2.78
Completeness: Complete
Preservation: Fair
Parish: Restricted Access
District: Swale
County: Kent
Region: South East
Place known as: NW Swale
Discovery method: Other chance find
RRC reference: rrc-39.5
Notes: This coin was found in a coastal area of reclaimed land known to be formed from material cleared from London in the Post-Medieval period after the Great Fire of 1666. The area 200m to the south-east of the findspot however is the location of a suspected Roman villa. It is therefore unclear whether this coin is a genuine ancient loss relating to the nearby Roman site, redeposited alongside other material from London or a more recent antiquarian loss.