Rare Roman coins could fetch thousands today at auction

They were discovered in a field near Bruton

The coins which were found in a field in Somerset
Author: Andrew KayPublished 22nd Oct 2024
Last updated 22nd Oct 2024

Ancient coins - which date back to Roman times - are being auctioned off later, after being unearthed in Somerset.

They're expected to fetch up to £8,000 after being found near Bruton in June by a metal detectorist.

The person who found them in a field in South Brewham , Mike Clark, says he'll be sharing the proceeds with the landowner.

The extremely rare silver denarius of the Roman Emperor Carausius will be offered for sale at Noonans Mayfair.

Mike, 73, of Wimborne, used to be a commercial fisherman operating out of Poole harbour and has been metal detecting for 52 years.

He said: “It was on June 9th, that I attended an organised dig with around 20 detectorists on some pasture fields at South Brewham in Somerset. Using my XP Deus 1 metal detector, which I have had for many years, nothing was found in the morning but in the afternoon on another field my first signal was a £1 coin; the next signal revealed at a depth of 6 inches a silver coin.

"I recognised it immediately as a denarius of the Roman Emperor Carausius. I then contacted the local Finds Liaison Officer so that it could be properly recorded.”

Nigel Mills, Coins and artefacts Specialist at Noonans, added: “The coin, which was never published, features a laureate bust of the usurper Carausius, who commanded the Roman fleet ‘Classis Britannica’, based in the English Channel.

"In AD 286 the emperor Maximian ordered his execution after Carausius was suspected of concealing treasure captured from pirates. Carausius then declared himself Emperor of Britain and northern Gaul making Britain an independent state. For this he is sometimes regarded as the first ‘brexiteer.”

"The coin features a radiate Lion holding a thunderbolt. The letters RSR appear before the Lion which are the abbreviation for “Rodeunt Saturnia Regna’ from the poet Virgil’s ‘Eclogues’ meaning (the kingdom of Saturn returns). Carausius is hinting at a return to a Golden Age through his leadership. Carausius was murdered seven years later by his finance minister Allectus.”

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