Roman-British Coin Discovery a First for Mainland Europe

By CoinWeek News Staff …..
 

On January 27, 2025, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands announced a historic discovery: a hoard of 404 Roman and British coins, struck around 46-47 CE. The coins were found in Bunnik, a village in the province of Utrecht. When the coins were buried, this area lay on the northern border of the Roman Empire. According to the agency, the discovery of Romano-British coins is a first on the European mainland.

The dating of the coins is significant because it coincides with the Roman conquest of Britannia. The British coins were minted during the reign of King Cunobeline, who ruled from 9 to 40 CE. Despite Rome’s interest in the island, Cunobeline is believed to have maintained amicable relations with the Romans, trade flourishing between the two regions. Relations deteriorated shortly thereafter, however, as the Romans advanced into Britain, ultimately conquering much of the island by 84 CE.

This hoard of 404 coins likely paid Roman soldiers. The hoard consists of British gold staters minted between 5 and 43 CE, and Roman coins struck under Emperor Claudius, minted between 46 and 47CE. A total of 72 Roman gold aurei were also found, along with 288 silver denarii. Among the silver coins are those of Julius Caesar and one coin from Juba, King of Numidia in modern-day Algeria (ruled 60-40 BCE).

From the hoard, 381 coins were discovered by metal detectorists Gert-Jan Messelaar and Reinier Koelink and presented to archaeologist Anton Cruysheer of the Utrecht Landscape and Heritage Foundation for examination. Further excavation carried out by the Cultural Heritage Agency, in collaboration with the two finders, yielded an additional 23 coins.

Researchers are invited to study the hoard, which was purchased and curated by the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden.

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