For nearly two millennia, the tale of the ‘lost British emperor’ who stood up against ancient Rome has been overlooked in historical accounts. Carausius’s bold rise to power and his seven-year rule over Britain and parts of Gaul have faded into obscurity. However, with the remarkable uncovering of 52,000 Roman coins, fresh insights are now illuminating this tumultuous chapter in our island’s history.
With his hands caked in soil, Dave Crisp kneels in the very field where he unearthed a remarkable discovery. As he examines one of the 52,500 coins dating back to the 3rd century AD that he found, the excitement of the moment is palpable.
Over time, a treasure trove of coins has been uncovered from a field in Somerset, near Frome. These coins, featuring the likeness of Carausius, were hidden in a massive clay jar weighing as much as two men. The amazing discovery was made by Dave Crisp, a hospital chef, who stumbled upon 21 of these ancient coins using a metal detector on a nearby farm. Recognizing the significance of his find, the 63-year-old sought out the help of archaeologists to carefully excavate the site and reveal more of this fascinating historical treasure.
The container was overflowing with ancient Roman coins from the 3rd century, creating a significant discovery that ranks as one of the largest in British history.
The collection of coins spread out on the table was a fascinating sight, waiting to be sorted. A highlight of the hoard was the large number of coins belonging to Carausius, the ruler of Britain from AD 286 to AD 293. After being gathered, the hoard was taken to the British Museum for cleaning and documentation.
Dating back from AD 253 to AD 293, the coins in the hoard were mainly ‘radiates’ crafted from lower-quality silver or bronze. This treasure trove was worth four years’ worth of pay for a Roman soldier and is currently valued at a minimum of £250,000. Weighing a hefty 350 pounds, the coins may have been buried as an offering for a prosperous harvest or favorable weather conditions.
A 63-year-old man, Mr. Crisp, shared how his metal detector picked up an unusual signal, leading him to dig into the earth. “As I reached in and pulled out a clump of clay, I discovered a tiny Radiate – a small bronze Roman coin no bigger than my fingernail,” he excitedly recounted.
He mentioned: ‘I’ve come across many discoveries in my time, but this is my first significant coin collection.’
At first, Mr. Crisp stumbled upon 21 coins in a field near Frome in Somerset. However, when he uncovered the lid of a pot, he started to realize the importance of his finding.
Archaeologists carefully excavated the 2-foot-tall pot and its contents. The hoard was then transported to the British Museum for cleaning and documentation.
‘It was difficult for me to leave it in the ground for the archaeologists to dig up, but considering it had been there for 1,800 years, I figured a few more days wouldn’t hurt,’ Mr. Crisp explained. ‘My family thought I was crazy to walk away and leave it.’
The coins were discovered in a large, well-preserved pot approximately 18 inches in diameter – a kind of jar typically used for food storage.
In total, the hoard contains over 760 Carausius coins – the largest collection ever found. Among them are five rare silver denarii, the only coins of their kind minted in the Roman Empire during that period.
According to Roger Bland, the head of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum, the upcoming display of coins from the recently discovered hoard is incredibly significant. This hoard, considered to be one of the largest ever found in Britain, provides valuable insights into the coinage and history of the period. Over the next couple of years, researchers will delve into the treasures to uncover the stories they hold.
The late 3rd Century AD was a tumultuous time for Britain, marked by barbarian invasions, economic struggles, and civil unrest. However, Roman rule eventually regained stability when Emperor Diocletian and Emperor Maximian formed a powerful coalition that lasted for two decades. This alliance successfully defeated the separatist regime led by Carausius in Britain.
This discovery gives us a chance to shine a spotlight on Carausius. Although Roman Britain has been a subject of study for school children for many years, the story of Carausius, the overlooked British emperor, is often neglected in the curriculum.
According to the 1996 Treasure Act, anyone who discovers a stash of buried coins is required to report it to the coroner within a fortnight. If the coins are acquired by the Museum of Somerset as intended, the finder, Mr. Crisp, and the landowner will split the reward.
Some of the coins, which were unearthed in April, will be exhibited at the British Museum from July 22 to mid-August.
The largest hoard ever found in Britain contained 54,912 coins dating back to the years 180AD to 274AD. This impressive collection was discovered in two containers near Mildenhall, Wiltshire.
The large 18-inch pot buried in the field was filled with coins and held a weight of approximately 25 stone.
A collection of Roman coins was recently found in a field near Frome, Somerset. Since the discovery in late April, experts from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) at the British Museum have been examining the coins. They were discovered inside a single clay pot, which, despite being only 18 inches across, weighed an estimated 25 stone. This find comes after the uncovering of a hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins in central England last year, known as the Staffordshire Hoard, which consisted of over 1,500 objects, many of them made of gold. Thanks to the restraint of Mr. Crisp, who avoided digging up the coins, archaeologists from Somerset County Council were able to carefully excavate the pot and its contents. The BBC Two series, Digging for Britain, will soon showcase the story of this excavation.
Surveyor Dave Crisp, sporting a vibrant purple T-shirt, is in charge of the excavation taking place in the Frome field.
