IV CASUAL FINDS OF ROMAN COINS IN NORTH-WEST ENGLAND

A LANCASHIRE, MERSEYSIDE AND GREATER MANCHESTER

B CUMBRIA

C CHESHIRE AND ADJACENT AREAS

The same format of reporting will be used as in the previous volumes in 1990, 1995 and 2000:

List 1 AD 96 Periods I-IV

List 2 AD 96192 Periods V-IX
List 3 AD 192294 Periods X-XIV
List 4 AD 294 Periods XV-XXI
List 5 Coin-finds lacking information on dates of issue

These finds are reported from time to time in the Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and
Cheshire (HSLC) and of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society
(CW 3):

HSLC 151 (2002), 161-70

CW 3 2 (2002), 305-6
CW 3 5 (2005), 235-9
CW 3 6 (2006), 229-33

Notes: There are two substantial collections of coins which are not related to known Roman sites and
are not obvious hoards or votive deposits from Cumbria (Beetham Hall Farm) and from Cheshire
(Goostrey, Vale Royal and Congleton parishes). These will be included as Appendices at the ends of
Sections B and C respectively.

Many of the coins cited in this section have been reported through the Portable Antiquities Scheme
(PAS) and have been entered on the relevant county databases; these will be indicated as appropriate.
I am glad to acknowledge my gratitude to the Finds Liaison Officers for the north-west counties for their
unstinting help in providing the information to keep the entries in this section as up-to-date as possible.

151
IV.A CASUAL FINDS OF ROMAN COINS FROM LANCASHIRE

IV.A, 1

Barnoldswick 1995 Sestertius of Vespasian PAS

Clitheroe c. 2000 Denarius of Marcus Antonius PAS

(Crawford no. 544)

Darwen 2007 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 408, 1a)

Downham 1994 Dupondius of Vespasian PAS

Garstang 2008 Worn copy of an aes-issue of PAS

Octavian (Crawford no. 535,1
of 38 BC); denarius of Marcus
Antonius (Crawford no. 544)

Garstang 2008 As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 PAS

(Claudius), 100)

Garstang 2008 Denarius of Nero (RIC 12 (Nero), PAS

62 of AD 656)

Gisburn 2007 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 337, 3 of 91 BC)

Liverpool (West 1991 As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 PAS

Derby) (Claudius), 100)

Lydiate c. 2000 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

342, 4a of 90 BC)

Mitton 2005 Denarius of Marcus Antonius PAS

(Crawford no. 544, 21)

Stalmine 2002 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 269, 1 of 125 BC)

Whalley ? Coin (unspecified) of Vespasian below on p. 165

(Churchyard)

Whalley 2006 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 433, 1 of 54 BC)

Whittington 2005 As of Domitian (?) PAS

Whittington 2009 Dupondius of Vespasian PAS

(B 6254 road)

152
IV.A, 1 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Grotton (Thornlee Hall; 1995, 66): The coin is an as of Domitian; the consular date is obscured, but
the reverse legend is VIRTVTI AVGVSTI S C, issued from AD 85. The coin is now in Saddleworth
Museum.

Oldham (Alexandra Park; 1995, 66): One of the coins is recorded as having the reverse type, Fortune
with cornucopiae.

Thornton Cleveleys (1990, 221): Further details have emerged regarding the discovery here of a coin
of Nero. The coin was found in 1946 in a private garden in Fleetwood Road North, and reported in the
Blackpool Gazette and Herald for 20 July, 1946. This report carries a photograph, allowing the coin to
be identified as a little-worn as (RIC 12 (Nero), 544 of AD 668).

153
IV.A, 2

Bentham c. 2000 Denarius of Antoninus Pius PAS

(RIC 3 (Antoninus), 175ff of
AD 1489)

Bickerstaffe 2005 Sestertius of Trajan PAS

Bolton 1970s Sestertius of Lucius Verus PAS

(RIC 3 (Marcus), 1462 of AD 166-7)

Borwick 2006 Sestertius of Hadrian (?) PAS

Borwick 2008 Sestertius of Trajan PAS

Bracewell-with- 2002 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

Brogden (Hadrian), 268)

Burrow-with- 2000 As of Lucilla PAS

Burrow

Catterall 2007 Little-worn denarius of Hadrian PAS

(RIC 2 (Hadrian), 241A of AD 1348)

Clitheroe 1991 Sestertius of Trajan PAS

Clitheroe 1990s Worn sestertius of Trajan J.Rigby

(Waddington Hall)

Clitheroe 2005 Very worn and corroded PAS

sestertius of Trajan (?)

Cockerham 2010 Denarius of Faustina II (RIC 3 PAS

(Marcus), 683)

Downham 2005 Sestertius of Hadrian PAS

Formby* 1992 Denarius of Hadrian PAS

Garstang 2008 Two denarii of Trajan (RIC 2 PAS

(Trajan), 32ff and 41 of AD 100)

Garstang 2008 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 247)

Garstang 2008 Denarius of Faustina I (RIC 3 PAS

(Antoninus), 378)

Garstang 2008 Very worn as of Hadrian PAS

Gisburn 2004 Dupondius of Commodus PAS

Gressingham 2002 As of Trajan PAS

154
 4.1 Denarius (obverse
and reverse) of Faustina I
from Nether Kellet (RIC 3
(Antoninus), 371 of AD 141+).
Photograph: Dot Boughton

4.2 Denarius (obverse and reverse)

of Antoninus Pius from Nether Kellet
(RIC 3 (Antoninus), 216 of AD 1512).
Photograph: Dot Boughton

Lancaster 2005 Very worn and corroded PAS

(Aldcliffe) sestertius of Hadrian (?)

Lancaster 2004 Denarius of Nerva (RIC 2 (Nerva), 13) PAS

(Scotforth)

Nateby (School) c. 2000 Coin (unspecified) of Trajan N.Thompson

Nether Kellet 2007 Denarii of Antoninus Pius (RIC 3 (Antoninus), PAS

216) and Faustina I (RIC 3 (Antoninus),
371); (plates 4.1 and 4.2)

Nether Kellet 2008 Sestertius of Hadrian PAS

Over Kellet 2005 Denarius of Faustina I (RIC 3 PAS

(Antoninus), 358)

Priest Hutton 1998 Sestertius of Hadrian PAS

Priest Hutton 1998 Denarius of Faustina II (RIC 3 PAS

(Marcus), 710)

Rufford (Old Hall) 2001 Two sestertii (one probably B.Edwards

of Hadrian)

Silverdale 1999 Dupondius of M. Aurelius Contrebis 26

(20012), 57

Silverdale 2003 Dupondius of Faustina II Lancaster

(RIC 3 (Antoninus), 1398) Museum

155
Silverdale 2009 Sestertius of Trajan; as of PAS
Antoninus Pius

Skippool 2010 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 90)

Staining 2008 Denarius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 121?) PAS

Swanside 2009 Denarius of Marcus Aurelius as PAS

Caesar (RIC 3 (Antoninus), 446
of AD 148-9; plate 4.3)

Whittington 2009 Dupondius of Nerva; sestertius PAS

(B 6254 road) of Trajan (AD 10311)

Wrea Green 2005 Denarius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 216) PAS

Wrea Green 2007 Denarii of Trajan (RIC 2 PAS

(Trajan), 317) and Hadrian
(RIC 2 (Hadrian), 274)

(Note: *This entry for Formby may be a duplicate of a previous one: 2000, 197)

4.3 Denarius (obverse and reverse) of Marcus Aurelius as Caesar from

Swanside, Clitheroe (RIC 3 (Antoninus), 446 of AD 1489).
Photograph: Dot Boughton

156
IV.A, 2 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Crompton (Crow Knowl: 1995, 68): Although this coin cannot currently be located, it was at one time
in the collection of the Tolson Museum, Huddersfield.

Droylesden (1990, 222): The aes-coins of Trajan, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius may have
constituted the whole or part of a hoard (Higson 1859, 30; above III.A.iii, 40).

157
IV.A. 3

Bashall Eaves 2007 Radiate copy of Tetricus I (RIC 5 PAS

(Tetricus I), 79ff)

Bashall Eaves 2007 Radiate of Carausius (RIC 5 PAS

(Carausius), 101)

Bolton 1970s Sestertius of Maximinus (RIC 4 PAS

(Maximinus), 85 of AD 2356; plate
4.4); radiate copy of Victorinus (RIC
5 (Victorinus), 61)

Bolton (Queens Park) 2006 Radiate of Constantius I (RIC 5 PAS

(Cyzicus), 672)

Brindle 2004 Radiate of Carausius (RIC 5 PAS

(Carausius), 300ff)

Burrow-with- 2000 Radiates of Salonina (RIC 5 (sole PAS

Burrow reign), 13) and Gallienus (RIC 5
(Gallienus), 510)

Cabus 2007 Unassignable radiate copy PAS

Carnforth (Kellet 2004 Radiate copy of Tetricus I PAS

Lane)

4.4 Sestertius (obverse

and reverse) of Maximinus I
from the Bolton area (RIC 4
(Maximinus), 85 of AD 2368).
Photograph: Dot Boughton

4.5 Denarius (obverse and reverse) of

Clodius Albinus from Garstang (RIC 4
(Clodius Albinus), 30 or AD 1957).
Photograph: Dot Boughton

158
Clitheroe 1989 Radiate copy of Tetricus II PAS
(RIC 5 (Tetricus II), 272)

Clitheroe 2007 Radiate copy of Tetricus I PAS

(RIC 5 (Tetricus I), 79)

Cockerham 2010 Radiate of Allectus (RIC 5 PAS

(Allectus), 114(?))

Croston 2004 Unassignable radiate copy PAS

Didsbury 1923 Alexandrian tetradrachm of See over

Claudius II (Milne 4231 of AD 269) on p. 160

Downham 1994 Radiate copy of Tetricus I PAS

Formby 1960 Radiate of Probus (RIC 5 PAS

(Probus), 920)

Garstang 2007 Denarius of Clodius Albinus PAS

(RIC 4 (Albinus), 30; plate 4.5)

Garstang 2009 Radiate copy of Claudius II PAS

(RIC 5 (Claudius II), 53)

Haydock 1965 As of Gordian III (RIC 4 PAS

(Gordian III), 297)

Lancashire 2004 Radiate copy of Tetricus I PAS

(unspecified)

Lathom 2005 Radiate copy of Tetricus I PAS

Merseyside 1997 Radiate of Claudius II (RIC 5 PAS

(unspecified) (Claudius II), 110)

Nateby (School) 2003 Denarius of Severus/Caracalla N.Thompson

Preesall 2007 Two silvered radiates of Postumus PAS

(inc. RIC 5 (Postumus), 325); see below
on p. 161

Preesall 2008 Radiates of Victorinus (RIC 5 PAS

(Victorinus), 114), Tetricus I see below
(RIC 5 (Tetricus I), 100) and on p. 161
Salonina (RIC 5 (joint reign), 5)

Preston (?*) 2009 Dupondius of Trajan Decius (RIC 4 PAS

(Trajan Decius), 115d of AD 24951)

Rufford (Old Hall) 2001 Unassignable radiate copy B.Edwards

Silverdale 1999 Two radiates (one of Gallienus) Contrebis 26

(2001-2), 57

159
Silverdale 2007 Denarius of Severus/Caracalla PAS

Silverdale 2009 Sestertius of Postumus (RIC 5 PAS

(Postumus), 170).

Thornton-in- 1990s Radiate of Marius (RIC 5 PAS

Lonsdale (Marius), 6)

Upholland 2005 Radiate of Claudius II (RIC 5 PAS

(Claudius II), 80)

Wesham (Hall) 2008 Radiate copy of Tetricus I PAS

(RIC 5 (Tetricus I), 126)

Wirral c. 1990 Tetradrachm of Maximian PAS

(Milne 1971, no. 4781?)

Yealand Conyers 2006 Radiate of Gallienus (RIC 5 PAS

(Gallienus), 494)

(Note: *The dupondius of Trajan Decius was found in a collection of objects at a private house in
Preston; its local provenance cannot be regarded as secure; the coin has been pierced for use as a
pendant, either in ancient or more recent times).

160
IV.A, 3 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Colne Valley (Lominot: 1995, 70): The denarius of Caracalla can be identified as Hill 1977, no. 434 of
AD 200; the coin, which is now in the Tolson Museum at Huddersfield, was found close to the line of the
Roman road from Castleshaw to Slack.

Didsbury (see above): Notice of the finely-preserved Alexandrian tetradrachm of Claudius II (listed
above) was found by Mr Ben Edwards (pers. comm.) in Manchester Central Library, in the form of a
letter enclosed in a copy of F.A. Bruton (Ed), The Roman Fort at Manchester, Manchester 1909. The
letter was written to Bruton on 19 February, 1923 over the signature, JWS or possibly JnS; if the
latter, it may have been the Mr John Swarbrick, who illustrated for Bruton (Bruton 1909, p. viii) and
who is perhaps to be identified with the man who later (1931) became editor of the National Ancient
Monuments Review. The coin was evidently found on an allotment in Didsbury, in gravel (possibly
Roman road material?) which was three feet below the ground-surface.

Derker (1995, 70): The tetradrachm of Probus was found at Albert Mount; the reverse type is described
as Eirene standing right.

Preesall (See above on p. 96): It seems likely that the five radiates listed above derive from the ill-
documented hoard from Preesall Hill (1990, 160f; 1995, 52; 2000, 137).

Royton (1995, 70): the silvered radiate of Postumus (RIC 5 (Postumus), 75) was found in Springfield
Lane.

Uppermill (Ballgrove: 1995, 70): Although the tetradrachm of Probus is listed in the records of Oldham
Museum, it is understood that it is, in fact, in private possession in Saddleworth. The coin is listed by
Milne as of Probus fifth regnal year (1971, no. 4600ff).

161
IV.A, 4

Bolton 1970s Nummus of Theodosius (LRBC II. PAS

1067; plate 4.6)

Breightmet 2005 Constantinian nummus (LRBC I. Bolton

87ff) Museum

Burrow-with- 2000 Nummi of Constantine I (RIC 7 PAS

Burrow (Siscia), 148) and Constantius II
(LRBC II. 76)

Burrow-with- 2000 Three Constantinian She-wolf and PAS

Burrow twins nummi (LRBC I. 51)

Castleshaw 190020 Nummus of Diocletian (RIC 6 Oldham

Valley (Alexandria), 30a of AD 300) Museum

Cockerham 2010 Nummi (Falling Horseman?); PAS

Valens (SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE
type)

Crosby 2002 Constantinian nummus (as LRBC PAS

II. 1152/3)

Crosby 2005 Constantinian nummus (Facing PAS

Victories of AD 3416)

Garstang 2008 Nummus of Constantine I PAS

(LRBC I. 48)

Garstang 2009 Nummi of Constantius II (LRBC I. PAS

1153) and Constans (LRBC II. 402)

Gressingham 2002 Two nummi of Constantine I PAS

(inc. as LRBC I. 48)

Fernyhalgh c. 2000 Six coins (see above in III.A.iii, 41) S. Hornshaw

(Ladyewell)

Formby 1986 Nummus of Constantine I or II PAS

4.6 Nummus (obverse and reverse)

of Theodosius from the Bolton area
(LRBC II. 1067 of AD 37883).
Photograph: Dot Boughton

162
Formby 2007 Nummus of Constantine I (RIC 7 PAS
(London), 10 of AD 3134)

Heysham 2002 Constantinian GLORIA PAS

EXERCITVS (2 std)

Lancashire 1994 Constantinian she-wolf and PAS

(unspecified) twins nummus (as LRBC I. 51)

Little Crosby c. 2000 Nummus of Constantius II (FEL PAS

TEMP REPARATIO (FH) type
(LRBC II. 1202)

Little Crosby c. 2007 Constantinian nummus (Facing PAS

Victories type)

Maghull 1958 Nummus of Constantine I (RIC 7 PAS

(London), 90 of AD 3167)

Middleton 2007 Constantinian nummus (BEATA PAS

TRANQVILLITAS)

Nether Kellet 1999 Constantinian GLORIA PAS

EXERCITVS (2 std)

Nether Kellet 1999 Nummus of Magnentius (LRBC II. 1ff) PAS

Prestwich 2001 Nummus of Licinius II (as RIC 7 PAS

(Siscia), 7)

Singleton 2009 Nummus of Constantius II (RIC 8 PAS

(Lyon), 189)

Whalley ? Coin (unspecified) of Constantine I see below

(Churchyard) on p. 165

163
IV.A, 4 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Pitses (1995, 72): The coin of Constantine I, of which no details appear to have survived, was found in
an old lane in Pitses.

164
IV.A, 5

Chipping Coin (S) Cheall 1996, 2

Gressingham 2002 Fourth-century nummus (S) PAS

Hornby 2010 Fourth-century nummus (S) PAS

Little Crosby c. 2000 Denarius; fourth-century PAS

nummus

Merseyside 2004 Sestertius (S) PAS

(unspecified)

Nateby (School) 2003 Aes-coin (S) N.Thompson

Nateby 2004 As (S) PAS

Nether Kellet 2007 Sestertius (S) PAS

Preston 2005 As (S) PAS

Ribchester 2002 Uncertain aes (S) PAS

Silverdale 2009 Fragmentary dupondius (S) PAS

Upholland 2005 Fourth-century nummus (S) PAS

IV.A, 5 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Slences (1990, 231): This find is recorded in LCAS 10 (1892), 251.

Whalley (1990, 231ff): There seems no reason to doubt the report of coins found in Whalley Churchyard,
although details of them are sparse. In his brief Guide to the Church (1958), Rev. H.C. Snape, in
discussing Roman discoveries associated with the site, writes Roman coins, however, have been dug
up in the churchyard, and at one time there was a collection of these in a case made from the wood of
an old pulpit. The coins were of Vespasian, Constantine and others, but unfortunately this collection has
been lost to the church (see above on pp. 152 and 163).

165
IV.B CASUAL FINDS OF ROMAN COINS FROM CUMBRIA

IV.B, 1

Arnside 2009 As of Vespasian PAS

Barrow-in-Furness 2007 Denarius of Augustus (RIC 12 PAS

(Augustus), 207 of 76 BC)

Beaumont c. 2000 Denarius of Marcus Antonius PAS

(Crawford no. 544)

Bridekirk 2009 Denarius of Vespasian (RIC 22 PAS

(Vespasian), 29 of AD 70)

Casterton 2008 Denarius of Nero (RIC 12 (Nero), 49) PAS

Dalton-in-Furness 2005 Republican denarius (Crawford Private

no. 342, 5b of 90 BC)

Gateside 2008 As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 PAS

(Claudius), 95)

Great Urswick 2005 Dupondius (copy) of Claudius PAS

(RIC 12 (Claudius), 94)

Hesket 1999 Denarius of Vespasian PAS

Irthington 2005 Denarius of Tiberius (RIC 12 PAS

(Tiberius), 26ff)

Irthington 2008 Denarius of Vespasian (RIC 22 PAS

(Vespasian), 356)

Kendal 1998 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 317, 3b of 104 BC)

Kendal 1999 As of Vespasian Private

Kendal-area(?) 2008 Denarius of Nero (RIC 12 (Nero), 49) PAS

Kendal 2010 Republican denarius (second PAS

century BC)

Kirkby Lonsdale c. 2000 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 199, 1a of 155 BC)

Muncaster pre-1892 Coin of Vespasian Jackson

1892, i. 176

Natland 1806 Aureus of Vespasian Nicolson

1861, 18f

166
Siddick 1926 Aureus of Nero (RIC 12 (Nero), 52) R. Bland

Stainmore 2005 Republican denarius PAS

Temple Sowerby** 2006 As of Vespasian (RIC 22 CW 3 9

(Vespasian), 322) (2009), 41

Ulverston 2002 Denarius of Augustus (RIC 12

(Augustus), 207)

Ulverston ? Denarius of Domitian

167
IV.B, 1 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Urswick (1990, 234): A detailed account of the discovery in 1798 of the denarius of Otho appears in
Thomas Wests The Antiquities of Furness (revised by William Close: Ulverston 1805). Descriptions are
given on pp. 10 and 395, and the coin is illustrated on Plate 5 (no. 1); it was found by John Holme in his
orchard in Little Urswick and, despite some uncertainties in reading the legends, was evidently the issue
listed as RIC 12 (Otho), 8ff.

Kirkhead Cave (1990, 234): The coin of Domitian was evidently found shortly before 1865, and is
recorded by H. Ecroyd Smith in HSLC 5 (1865), 226.

**Temple Sowerby: this moderately worn as of Vespasian (AD 71), listed above, was recovered during
a controlled excavation of a section of the Roman road which represented the western approach to the
Stainmore Pass; the coin was not, however, securely stratified (Zant 2009b).

168
IV.B, 2

Arnside 2000 Dupondius of Trajan Lancaster

Museum

Arnside 2009 Sestertius of Nerva (RIC 2 (Nerva), 76) PAS

Arnside 2009 Sestertius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 663) PAS

Beaumont c. 2000 Denarius of Trajan PAS

Brampton pre-1904 Aureus of Trajan CW 2 4 (1904),

353

Brampton 2006 Denarius of Marcus Aurelius PAS

(RIC 3 (Marcus), 185)

Brampton 2009 Sestertius of Marcus Aurelius PAS

(RIC 3 (Marcus), 964?)

Burton-in- 2007 Sestertius of Faustina II (RIC PAS

Kendal 3 (Marcus), 1673)

Carlisle-area 2007 Denarius of Marcus Aurelius PAS

Castle Carrock 2009 Dupondius/as of Trajan; two PAS

sestertii and a dupondius/as
(AD 11922) of Hadrian

Clifton 2003 Denarius of Trajan PAS

Cockermouth 2004 Denarius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 275) PAS

Colby 1999 Denarius of Antoninus Pius (RIC 3 PAS

(Antoninus), 163?)

Crook 2006 Sestertii of Nerva and Faustina II PAS

(RIC 3 (Marcus), 1678?)

Crosthwaite 2008 Two dupondii of Trajan PAS

Cumbria 1998 Denarius of Faustina II (RIC 3 PAS

(Marcus), 674)

Dalton-in-Furness 2001 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 Private

(Hadrian), 110 of AD 11922)

Dean 2004 Dupondius of Hadrian PAS

Egremont 2008 Worn sestertius of Hadrian(?) PAS

Grange-over-Sands 1999 Sestertii of Trajan, Faustina I (deified) PAS

and Faustina II (RIC 3 (Marcus), 1686)

169
Great Urswick 2005 Damaged denarius of Antoninus PAS
Pius (RIC 3 (Antoninus), 260 of
AD 1567)

Great Urswick 2006 As of Trajan; denarius of Antoninus Pius PAS

(RIC 3 (Antoninus), 275)

Great Urswick 2007 Denarius of Faustina II (RIC 3 PAS

(Marcus), 723)

Helsington 2005 Sestertius of Divus Verus (RIC 3 PAS

(Marcus), 1511); dupondius/as of
Antoninus Pius (COS IIII)

Helsington 2008 Denarius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 340) PAS

Ings 2007 Sestertius of Hadrian (AD 11922) PAS

Irthington 2005 Sestertius of Trajan (AD 1147) PAS

Irthington 2005 Sestertii of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), PAS

527, 642) and Faustina II; as of Faustina II

Irthington 2006 Denarius of Marcus Aurelius (RIC PAS

3 (Marcus), 102(?) of AD 1634)

Irthington 2007 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 172)

Irthington 2008 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 170)

Kendal 2007 Sestertii of Trajan(2) and Hadrian; as PAS

of Faustina II (RIC 3 (Marcus), 1639)

Kendal 2008 Sestertius of Crispina (RIC 3 PAS

(Commodus), 673)

Kirkby Lonsdale 1998 As of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 604) PAS

Kirkby Lonsdale 2002 Denarius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 219) PAS

Kirkby Lonsdale 2005 As of Lucilla (AD 16176) PAS

Kirkby Lonsdale 2008 Sestertius of Trajan (early head) PAS

Kirkby Lonsdale 2009 Two sestertii, two dupondii and J.Ferguson

an as of Trajan (all illegible) (see below)

Kirkby Lonsdale 2010 Dupondius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 605)

Little Strickland 1999 Denarius of Hadrian PAS

170
Little Urswick 2006 Denarius of Antoninus Pius (RIC 3 PAS
(Antoninus), 275 of AD 157-8; as of Trajan (?)

Longtown ? Aureus of Hadrian (RIC 2 R. Bland

(Hadrian), 321b)

Longtown 2009 Denarius of Trajan PAS

Penrith 2007 Sestertius of Trajan(?) PAS

Penrith 2010 Sestertius of Marcus Aurelius PAS

(RIC 3 (Marcus), 1029)

Scales 2010 Denarius of Faustina I (RIC 3 PAS

(Antoninus), 344)

Sizergh (Castle) 1960 Sestertius of Faustina II (RIC 3 PAS

(Marcus), 1628?)

Stainmore 1999 Sestertius of Marcus Aurelius (as Caesar) PAS

Ulverston 2003 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 137)

Ulverston (Scales) 2007 Fragmentary denarius of Faustina II PAS

(possibly RIC 3 (Marcus), 723; plate 4.7)

Walby 2006 Denarius of Marcus Aurelius PAS

(RIC 3 (Marcus), 185 of AD 168)

Whitehaven 2006 Sestertius of Hadrian PAS

(Calder Bridge)

Whitehaven 2008 Sestertius of Hadrian PAS

(Calder Bridge)

Wigton 2009 Denarius of Lucilla (RIC 3 (Marcus), 785) PAS

4.7 Denarius of Faustina II (obverse)

from Combermere Abbey (AD 16176).
Photograph: Frances MacIntosh

171
IV.B, 2 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Broughton-in-Cartmel (1990, 235): The papers of James Stockdale, held in the Record Office at
Barrow-in-Furness, show that one of the coins of Hadrian found in c. 1800 was a sestertius of AD
11922 (RIC 2 (Hadrian), 562).

Crosby Ravensworth (1990, 235; CW 2 64 (1964), 84): The denarius of Lucius Verus was found at
Trainlands; although there is still a farm of that name, enquiries have failed to reveal anything further
relating to the find. The only information, therefore that the coin was found beneath a heap of stones
derives from a letter, dated 21 May, 1851, of Thomas Reveley of Kendal (Archaeologia 34 (1852), 446;
Birley E.B. 1964, 81ff). The find was evidently made a few years previous to 1851.

Kirkby Lonsdale (see above on p. 170): These five coins of Trajan were found in 2009 in separate
findspots in the vicinity of Kirkby Lonsdale and Whittington; presumably they point to agricultural activity
in the hinterland of the fort at Burrow-in-Lonsdale.

172
IV.B, 3

Aldingham 2009 Radiate of Gallienus (RIC 5 PAS

(Gallienus, sole reign, 507?)

Arnside 2004 Antoninianus of Herennius Etruscus PAS

(RIC 4 (Decius), 138)

Arnside 2009 Radiate (silvered) of Postumus (RIC 5 PAS

(Postumus), 74; Cunetio 2396)

Arnside 2009 Radiate of Allectus (reverse illegible) PAS

Arnside 2009 Radiates of Gallienus (RIC 5 (Gallienus), PAS

181), Carausius (RIC 5 (Carausius),
98ff and 334), Allectus ([PVX AVG];
as RIC 5 (Allectus), 33); (plate 4.8)

Barrow-in-Furness 2002 Denarius of Julia Domna (RIC 4 PAS

(Walney Island) (Severus), 587 of AD 196-211)

Barrow-in-Furness 2008 Radiate of Gallienus (RIC 5 PAS

(Gallienus), 164)

Barrow-in-Furness 2008 Radiate copy of Tetricus I (RIC 5 PAS

(Tetricus I), 148)

4.8 Radiate of Allectus

(obverse) from Arnside
(AD 2936).
Photograph: Stuart Noon

4.9 A group of Alexandian tetradrachms of Diocletian from a

number of locations in the area of Barrow-in-Furness

173
Barrow-in-Furness 2008 Tetradrachm of Diocletian (Milne PAS
(Walney Island) 1971, no. 4851 of AD 287; plate 4.9)

Beaumont 2006 Two unassignable radiate copies F.Giecco

(St Marys Church) (inc. one minim; one of Tetricus I?)

Clifton 2003 Two denarii of Geta (both broken

in half, as if demonetised)

Crackenthorpe 1674 Radiate of Gallienus Machell

MS vol.6
Crosby-on-Eden ? Radiate of Probus (RIC 5
(near Church) (Ticinum), 553)

Grange-over-Sands 2007 Unassignable radiate copy (?) PAS

Helsington 2006 Denarius of Severus Alexander PAS

(RIC 4 (Alexander), 91 of AD 229)

Houghton 2004 Antoninianus of Gordian III Tullie

House

Irthington 2008 Denarius of Septimius Severus PAS

(RIC 4 (Severus), 91; plate 4.10)

Kendal 1998 Denarii of Julia Maesa (RIC 4 PAS

(Elagabalus), 268) and Julia
Mamaea (RIC 4 (Alexander), 329)

Kendal 2005 Denarius of Septimius Severus PAS

(RIC 4 (Severus), 69 of AD 1956)

Kendal 2006 Denarius of Julia Domna (RIC 4 PAS

(Severus), 534 of AD 1936)

Kendal 2006 Radiate copy of Tetricus I (RIC 5 PAS

(Tetricus I), 100); radiate of
Aurelian (RIC 5 (Aurelian), 62)

Kendal 2006 Unassignable radiate copy (?) PAS

4.10 Denarius of
Septimius Severus
(obverse and reverse)
from Irthington (RIC 4
(Septimius Severus),
91 of AD 1967).
Photograph: Dot
Boughton

174
Kendal 2009 Radiate copy of Gallienus (RIC 5 PAS
(Gallienus), 480?)

Kirkby Lonsdale 2006 Radiate copies of Gallienus (RIC 5 PAS

(Gallienus), 179) and Divus
Claudius (RIC 5 (Claudius II), 259)

Natland 2001 Denarius of Severus Alexander (?) PAS

Orton 2006 Radiate of Aurelian (RIC 5 PAS

(Aurelian), 62)

Penrith 2007 Unassignable radiate copy(?) PAS

Scales 2010 Copper denarius (votive?) of PAS

Julia Domna (RIC 4 (Severus),
574); radiate of Gallienus (RIC 5
(sole reign), 159)

Shap 2002 Denarius of Geta PAS

Solway 2000 Antoninianus of Probus (RIC 5 Tullie

(Antioch), 925) House

Thirlwall Castle 2006 Radiate copy, probably of PAS

Tetricus I

Ulverston 2000 Radiate copies of Tetricus I PAS

and Tetricus II

Wigton 2006 Denarius of Julia Domna (RIC 4 PAS

(Severus), 534)

Wigton 2006 Radiate copy of Tetricus I (RIC 5 PAS

(Tetricus I), 100)

Workington c. 1960 Denarius of Elagabalus (RIC 4 I. Caruana

(Elagabalus), 146)

175
IV.B, 3 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Barrow-in-Furness (Hartington Street; 1995, 79 and 2000, 217): The mystery that has surrounded
the circumstances of the discovery of this denarius of Septimius Severus has now been clarified; I am
grateful to Dan Elsworth (of Greenlane Archaeology) for informing me, following a visit he made to an
exhibition held in 2009 at the Dock Museum at Barrow, that he has learnt from the finder that the coin
was, in fact, found in Back Hartington Street during excavation work conducted by North-West Water;
there seems to be no doubt that it was retrieved from one of their trenches. This coin can, therefore, take
its place as a genuine Barrow find. It is worth noting that other archaeological finds have been made in
this area, and that there is evidence of late prehistoric settlement in the nearby park.

Penrith (2000, 218): See also Brit. Num. Journal 65 (1995), no. 57; for the coin, cf. RIC 7 (London),
158.

176
IV.B, 4

Aldingham 2009 Nummus of Helena (PAX PAS

PVBLICA)

Arnside 2004 Nummi of Helena (LRBC I. 735), Private

Decentius (II. 224) and Arcadius
(II. 2408)

Barrow-in-Furness 2005 Nummus of Constantius II (LRBC PAS

II. 72 of AD 353-4)

Barrow-in-Furness 2008 Two nummi of Constantius II PAS

(Walney Island) (LRBC II. 40(2); plate 4.11)

Barrow-in-Furness 2008 Two nummi of Magnentius (LRBC PAS

II. 50)

Brampton 2005 Nummus of Constans PAS

(Churchyard)

Bridekirk 2008 Damaged and double-struck nummus; PAS

possibly a FEL TEMP REPARATIO
(Falling Horseman) copy

Crosby-on-Eden ? Nummus of Constans (as LRBC PAS

(near Church) II. 43)

Crosscanonby 2009 Nummus of Constantine II (RIC 7 PAS

(London), 287)

Cumbria 2007 Nummus of Constantius II (FEL PAS

TEMP REPARATIO Falling
Horseman type)

Helsington 2004 Nummus of Constantine I (RIC 7 PAS

(London), 221)

Helsington 2006 Nummi of Helena (LRBC I. 112) PAS

and Constantine II (LRBC I. 5)

4.11 Nummus of
Constantius II (obverse and
reverse) from Walney Island;
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
(Galley type; LRBC II. 40).
Photograph: Dot Boughton

177
Holme St Cuthbert 2006 Nummus of the House of Valentinian PAS

Irthington 2004 Two Constantinian nummi PAS

Kendal 2005 Nummus of Constantine I (RIC 7 PAS

(London), 220 of AD 3212)

Kendal 2006 Nummi of Constantine I (RIC 7 PAS

(Lyon), 125 of AD 321),
Constantine II (LRBC I. 5 of AD
3246) and Helena (LRBC I. 128
of AD 33741)

Kendal-area 2009 Siliqua of Valens (as RIC 9 (Trier), 46a) PAS

Kirkby Lonsdale 2006 Nummus of Constantine I (as LRBC PAS

I. 52 of AD 330-5)

Natland 2007 Nummus of Constantine I (LRBC I. 52) PAS

St Bees (Sea Mill) 2008 Nummus of Maxentius (RIC 6 PAS

(Rome), 194a of AD 307)

Scales 2010 Nummus of Constantine II (LRBC I. 899) PAS

Ulverston 2002 Nummus of Magnentius (LRBC II. 53) PAS

178
IV.B, 4 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Whitehaven (1990, 239): Two Constantinian coins were recorded as having been found in Whitehaven;
it is clear from the notebook of Thomas Dalzell, an antiquarian collector from Lancaster (who later
moved to Whitehaven), which is held in Lancaster City Museum, that the coins (found in the 1860s) were
given to Dalzell by another local collector, Corbyn Barrow. Dalzell later donated the coins to the Storey
Institute, a precursor of Lancaster Museum. The coins were both examples of the SOLI INVICTO
COMITI type of the second decade of the fourth century. Dalzells notes do not provide any indication of
the mint-marks of the coins; although the coins in question probably do form part of Lancaster Museums
coin collection, the absence of recorded mint-marks precludes a positive identification of them within
the collection.

Broughton-in-Cartmel (1990, 239): There is evidently some confusion about the findspot of the 1785
coin find; Watkin (1883, 243), supposedly citing Baines (History of Lancashire (1836 edition), vol. 4.
718), says that the coins (of Magnus Maximus and Hadrian) were found in Broughton-in-Furness, whilst
other information (Mark Brennand, pers. comm.) places the find at Broughton East, near Cartmel. No
details of the coin of Magnus Maximus have survived. Baines, in fact, is perfectly clear that the coin
of Magnus Maximus was found at Broughton-in-Cartmel. It also seems likely that the coin of Hadrian
referred to by Watkin was, in fact, the copper coin of Adrian that was found with the hoard from Upper
Holker (Baines 1836, 4. 717).

179
IV.B, 5

Arnside 2009 As (first/second century AD) PAS

Bardsea Coins (M)

Bardsea (Sea Wood) Coins (M)

Cartmel (Hampsfield 2004 Sestertius (second century?) M. Hancox

Hall)

Dent 2007 Sestertius (first/second century) PAS

Harrington c. 1980 Coins (3) I. Caruana

(Churchyard)

Holme St Cuthbert 2006 Two illegible fourth-century PAS

nummi (2)

Irthington 2008 Dupondius/as (S) PAS

Kirkby Lonsdale Two illegible aes coins (2) PAS

Penrith 2007 Illegible aes coin (S) PAS

Sizergh (Castle) c. 1677 Denarii (2) Machell

MS 6

Wigton 2000 Dupondius (S) PAS

180
IV.B Appendix

Beetham Hall Farm: In the First Supplement (1995, 77ff), a number of coins were reported as having
been recovered from a variety of findspots in the vicinity of the site of this medieval hall. The findspots
are too disparate and the date-range of the coins (first to late fourth century) too wide for them to have
come from a hoard; they thus pose the question of whether there was a Roman or Romano-British site
in the area. There are now seven coins in all, of which some of the original identifications have been
modified:

Vespasian 1 (sestertius)
Hadrian 1 (sestertius)
Tetricus I 1 (as RIC 5 (Tetricus I), 94)
Unassignable radiate copy 1
Constantine I 2 (RIC 7 (London), 90; as LRBC I. 51)
Valens 1 (as LRBC II. 97)

181
IV.C CASUAL FINDS OF ROMAN COINS IN CHESHIRE

IV.C, 1

Acton Bridge 2000 As of Vespasian PAS

Backford 2003 Denarius of Domitian Grosvenor

Museum

Broxton 2010 Denarius of Domitian (RIC 22 PAS

(Domitian), 692 of AD 90)

Cheadle(?) 1985 Dupondius of Vespasian(?) PAS

Christleton 2007 Denarius of Vespasian (RIC 21 PAS

(Vespasian), 19)

Combermere Abbey 2008 As of Domitian as Caesar (RIC PAS

22 (Titus), 318)

Cuddington 2007 Dupondius of Vespasian PAS

Greasby 1976 Coin of the late first century Wirral Journ.

3 (1986), 15

Greenhalgh 2007 Tetradrachm of Nerva (as PAS

(Wirral) Milne 1971, 540)

Holmes Chapel 2007 Quadrans (RIC 21 (Anon. PAS

Quad.), 32; plate 4.12)

Hoylake 2000 Denarius of Domitian PAS

Huntington 2000 Asses of Tiberius (RIC 12 PAS

(Tiberius), 81), Gaius (RIC 12
(Gaius), 58), Vespasian;
dupondius of Domitian

Huntington 2000 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 464, 5 of 46 BC)

4.12 Anonymous
quadrans (obverse and
reverse) from Holmes
Chapel (RIC 21 (Anon.
Quads), 32).
Photograph: Vanessa
Oakden

182
Huntington 2008 Denarius of Galba PAS

Huxley 2007 Dupondius of Vespasian (RIC 22 PAS

(Vespasian), 1142)

Kelsall 2003 Republican denarius (Crawford Grosvenor

no. 407 of 68 BC) Museum

Malpas 2000 Republican denarius (Crawford PAS

no. 454, 1-2 of 47 BC)

Neston 2001 Three Republican denarii PAS

Crawford nos 158,1 (179170 BC),
393 (765 BC), 439 (50 BC); denarius of
Vespasian

Stockport 1985 Dupondius of Vespasian Stockport

(Adswood) Museum

Tiverton 2000 Denarius of Tiberius (RIC 12 PAS

(Tiberius), 30)

Weaverham 2000 Denarius of Augustus (RIC 12 Chesh. Arch.

(Augustus), 69a of 19 BC) News 10
(2003)

Wistaston 2001 Denarius of Vespasian PAS

183
IV.C, 2

Acton Bridge 2000 Two asses of Hadrian; denarius PAS

of Antoninus Pius; two asses of
Marcus Aurelius; denarius of
Commodus (RIC 3 (Commodus), 18)

Acton Bridge 2000 Denarius of Trajan; denarius and as of PAS

Antoninus Pius; two asses of Marcus
Aurelius (as Caesar: inc.RIC 3 (Antoninus),
1361b); dupondius of Commodus
(RIC 3 (Commodus), 292a)

Acton Bridge 2001 Denarius of Lucilla PAS

Bebington c. 2000 Denarius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 131) PAS

Bidston (Wirral) 2007 Alexandrian tetradrachm of Nerva PAS

Broxton 2009 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 161 of AD 1258)

Broxton 2010 Sestertius of Trajan PAS

Byley 2001 Denarius of Trajan (RIC 2 (Trajan), 32ff) PAS

Chester (Claverton) 1988 As of Lucius Verus (?) Grosvenor

Museum

Davenham 2010 Sestertius of Lucilla (RIC 3 PAS

(Marcus), 1755)

Eccleston 1986 Denarius of Faustina I (RIC 3 Grosvenor

(Antoninus), 348) Museum

Eccleston 2000 Sestertius and as of Hadrian; Grosvenor

sestertii of Marcus Aurelius Museum
and Commodus (AD 1869)

Eccleston 2001 Dupondius of Hadrian PAS

Gresford 2009 Dupondius/as of Marcus Aurelius PAS

(cf. RIC 3 (Marcus), 977) see below

Henhull 2000 Denarius of Commodus PAS

(RIC 3 (Commodus), 155)

Heswall c. 2000 Two denarii of Antoninus Pius PAS

(RIC 3 (Antoninus), 58, 71)

Huntington 2008 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 PAS

(Hadrian), 110)

184
Kelsall 2008 Sestertius of Trajan (AD 103-11) L-P
Archaeology

Mouldsworth 1998 Sestertius of Nerva PAS

Peover 2009 Sestertius of Antoninus Pius PAS

Ravensmoor 2009 Denarius of Faustina I (RIC 3 PAS

(Antoninus), 327 of AD 1389)

Ruyton XI Towns 2007 Sestertius of Trajan (RIC 2 PAS

(Trajan), 575/7)

Shavington 2000 Sestertius of Trajan PAS

Stapeley 2000 Denarius of Hadrian (RIC 2 Salt Museum,

(Hadrian), 98); sestertius of Northwich
Marcus Aurelius (RIC 3
(Marcus), 964)

Weaverham 2000 Dupondius of Trajan (AD 98102) Salt Museum,

Northwich

185
IV.C,2 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Warleston (sic) (2000, 228): For Warleston, read Worleston.

Gresford (see above): The dupondius/as of Marcus Aurelius (listed above) does not appear to be
recorded in RIC 3 or BMC 4; although the coin is poorly preserved and its legends cannot be recovered,
it seems to be the PROFECTIO AVG type, which is recorded for Marcus Aurelius as a sestertius (RIC
3 (Marcus), 977), showing the Emperor riding from left to right, with a soldier in front and three soldiers
with standards behind.

186
IV.C, 3

Acton Bridge 2000 Denarii of Septimius Severus PAS

(RIC 4 (Severus), 49, 71);
denarius of Julia Domna (RIC 4
(Severus), 548); sestertius
of Gallienus (RIC 5 (Gallienus),
248); antoninianus of Salonina
(RIC 5 (Joint Reign), 7)

Acton Bridge 2001 Denarius of Septimius Severus PAS

Acton Bridge 2010 Antoninianus of Herennia Etruscilla PAS

(RIC 4 (Trajan Decius), 59b); radiate
of Divus Claudius (RIC 5 (Claudius II), 262)

Barton 2001 Sestertius of Julia Mamaea (RIC 4 PAS

(Alexander), 708); radiate of
Gallienus (RIC 5 (Gallienus), 184)

Bidston (Wirral) 2007 Radiate of Claudius II (RIC 5 PAS

(Claudius II), 110)

Carrington 2008 Radiate of Quintillus (RIC 5 PAS

(Quintillus), 52)

Church Minshull 1998 Unassignable radiate copy PAS

Davenham 2008 Radiate of Carausius PAS

Kingsley 2000 Radiate of Gallienus PAS

(Crewood Hall)

Leasowe 2007 Tetradrachm of Maximian PAS

(Milne 1971, no. 4967 of AD 291)

Little Budworth 2010 Denarius of Julia Maesa (RIC 4 PAS

Elagabalus), 252)

Ravensmoor 2009 Sestertius of Septimius Severus PAS

Romiley 2002 Radiate copy of Claudius II (as RIC 5 PAS

(Claudius II), 14)

Rudheath 1999 Antoninianus of Salonina (RIC 5 PAS

(Salonina), 6)

Shotwick 2000 Denarius of Geta (Hill 1977, no. PAS

1078ff of AD 210)

Tarvin 2009 Denarius of Caracalla (RIC 4 PAS

(Caracalla), 83 of AD 206);
possible Severan-period denarius
(Rev. Mars walking right)

187
Tattenhall 2009 Radiate of Gallienus and an PAS
unassignable radiate copy

Wallasey 1995 Denarius of Septimius Severus PAS

Weaverham 2001 Unassignable radiate copy PAS

188
IV.C, 4

Acton 2010 Nummus of Constantius I (GENIO PAS

POPVLI ROMANI)

Acton Bridge 2000 Two nummi of Constantius I PAS

(inc. RIC 6 (Siscia), 82a);
nummi of Constantine II (RIC 7
(Siscia), 58) and Constantius
II (LRBC I. 263)

Acton Bridge 2001 Nummi of Constantine I (as PAS

LRBC I. 48, 52); two nummi of
Valentinian I (as LRBC II. 92, 96)

Barton 2001 Nummus of Valentinian I (as PAS

LRBC II. 92); illegible nummus

Byley 2009 Nummus of Decentius (LRBC II. 59) PAS

Carrington 2008 Constantinian nummus (RIC 7 PAS

(London), 219)

Carrington 2008 Three Constantinian nummi PAS

(LRBC I. 49, 52 and 182)

Chester (Claverton) ? Nummus of Constantius II (as PAS

Caesar; LRBC I. 34)

Christleton 2007 Two nummi of Constantius II PAS

(LRBC II. 34, 1609)

Davenham 2008 Nummi of Crispus (RIC 7 PAS

(London), 295 of AD 324-5)
and Constantine I (LRBC I. 51)

Hazel Grove 1990s Nummus of Valens (LRBC II. Grosvenor

1300ff) Museum

Heswall c. 2000 Nummus of Maxentius (RIC 6 PAS

(Rome), 187)

Huntington 2000 Constantinian GLORIA PAS

EXERCITVS (1 std)

Kingsley (Crewood 2000 Nummus of Constantine I PAS

Hall) (RIC 7 (London), 11)

Marbury 2006 Nummus of Constantine I PAS

(RIC 6 (Lyon), 307 of AD 309-10;
plate 4.13)

Marple 2007 Nummus of Maximian(?) (RIC 6 PAS

(Lyon), 123b of AD 301-3)

189
 4.13 Nummus of Constantine I from Marbury;
reverse type, SOLI INVICTO COMITI (RIC 6
(Lyon), 307 of AD 30910).
Photograph: Vanessa Oakden

Mollington 2008 Nummus of Valentinian (LRBC PAS

II. 1313)

Mollington 2010 Nummus of Valens (LRBC II. 516) PAS

Rudheath 1999 Nummi of Constantine I (LRBC PAS

I. 48, 70, 137ff)

Rudheath 1999 Nummi of Magnus Maximus and PAS

Flavius Victor (LRBC II. 155 and 158)

Stapeley 2000 Nummi of Constantine I (as LRBC I. 52) PAS

and Constantius II (LRBC I. 194)

Upton 2001 Nummus of Constantius II Grosvenor

(LRBC II. 28ff) Museum

Weaverham 2007 Nummus of Constantine I PAS

(RIC 6 (Lyon), 307 of AD 309-10)

Weston 2007 Nummus of Constantine I PAS

(RIC 6 (London), 101 of AD 30712)

190
IV.C, 4 Further Information on Coins Previously Recorded

Christleton (2000, 235): The coin of Constantine I (BEATA TRANQVILLITAS) appears to have been
minted at Lyon (RIC 7 (Lyon), 130 of AD 321; Cummings 2000, 13).

Church Minshull (2000, 235): The nummus of Constantius II was a GLORIA EXERCITVS (1 std)
type.

191
IV.C, 5

Acton Bridge 2000 Denarius (S); sestertius (S); as (S); PAS

aes-coin (S)

Audlem 2000 As/dupondius (S) PAS

Chowley 2010 Sestertius (S) PAS

Great Budworth 2000 Denarius (S) PAS

Hale 2001 Small aes coin (S); PAS

sestertius (S) and denarius (S)

Ravensmoor 2009 Two illegible sestertii and a dupondius PAS

(possibly of Antoninus Pius) (M)

Spurstow 2000 Two asses (M) PAS

Weaverham 2008 Dupondius (S) PAS

Winsford pre-1882 Coins (M) Ormerod 1882

Wirral c. 2000 Sestertius (S) PAS

192
IV.C Appendix

The following 122 (118 legible) Roman coins came from fields within three parishes in Cheshire
Goostrey, Vale Royal and Congleton; they were collected by the same finder, using a metal-detector,
over a period of approximately fifteen years. There was no suggestion from the circumstances of
discovery that they (or any groups of them) should be regarded as hoard-material. The coins:

Republican 1 AR (Crawford no. 391, 2)

Claudius 1 (RIC 12 (Claudius), 97)
Nero 1 (RIC 12 (Nero), 351/2)
Trajan 2 AR; (sestertius)
Hadrian 1 (sestertius)
Antoninus Pius 3 2AR (RIC 3 (Antoninus), 22, 203/229a);
also one copper denarius (RIC 3 (Antoninus), 68)
Faustina I 1 (RIC 3 (Antoninus), 1162)
Marcus Aurelius 2 (RIC 3 (Marcus), 1096/1109, 1227/1237)
Caracalla 1 AR (RIC 4 (Caracalla), 223/223A)
Gallienus 1 (RIC 5 (sole reign), 207)
Claudius II 1 (as RIC 5 (Claudius II), 66)
Divus Claudius 2 (RIC 5 (Claudius II), 259, 266)
Quintillus 1 (RIC 5 (Quintillus), 33)
Victorinus 5 (RIC 5 (Victorinus), 55(?), 78, 112(2), 122)
Tetricus I 6 (inc. RIC 5 (Tetricus I), 100(2), 121)
Tetricus II 2 (RIC 5 (Tetricus II), 272(2))
Unassignable radiate
copies 11
Probus 1 (RIC 5 (Probus), 22)
Carausius 3 (RIC 5 (Carausius), 98ff(2), 815)
Licinius II 1 (RIC 7 (Cyzicus), 18)

Constantinian
SOLI INVICTO COMITI
VICTORIAE LAETAE
BEATA TRANQVILLITAS
CAESARVM NOSTRORVM
GLORIA EXERCITVS (2s)
She-wolf and twins
Victory on prow
Quadriga
GLORIA EXERCITVS (1s)
PIETAS ROMANA
Facing Victories
FEL TEMP REPARATIO
(Falling Horseman)
Magnentius
2
1
4 (inc. RIC 7 (London), 271, 284)
1 (RIC 7 (Trier), 441)
4 (inc. LRBC I. 181, 352)
8 (inc. LRBC I. 51(2), 58, 65, 184(2))
3 (inc. LRBC I. 52, 356)
1 (LRBC I. 114)
14 (inc. LRBC I. 87, 88, 118, 124ff, 133)
2 (inc. LRBC I. 113)
2 (inc. LRBC I. 260)
11 (inc. LRBC II. 206)
2 (as LRBC II. 58(2))

Valentinianic
GLORIA
ROMANORVM 4 (inc. LRBC II. 321, 1411-3)
SECVRITAS
REIPVBLICAE 7 (inc. LRBC II. 1416/7)
VOT XV MVLT XX 1 (LRBC II. 1072)

193
Theodosian

SALVS REIPVBLICAE 2 (inc. LRBC II. 796ff)

VICTORIA AVGG 1
VICTORIA AVGGG 1 (LRBC II. 161ff)

Illegible (second century) 2 (sestertii)

Illegible (third/fourth
centuries) 2

(There was also a coin of Antiochus IV of Syria of 175-164 BC)

Table 4.1: Chronological Distribution of the Coins listed in the above Appendix

I 1 VIII 2 XV 8
II 1 IX XVI 1
III 1 X 1 XVII 34
IV XI XVIII 13
V 2 XII XIX 12
VI 1 XIII 29 XX
VII 4 XIV 4 XXI 4

Although the numbers of coins of the first and early second centuries are very low, from the mid-second
century the profile in general resembles that for Roman sites in the North West: the later coins are
dominated by those of periods XIII and XVII; some strength is maintained during the later Constantinian
and Valentinianic periods, and there is a noticeable showing of Theodosian issues, which is not surprising
as one comes closer to the north-west midlands.

194
DISCUSSION OF THE COINS LISTED IN CHAPTER IV

The advent of the Portable Antiquities Scheme has greatly enhanced the flow of information regarding
individual finds of Roman coins, especially from locations away from known Roman or Romano-British
sites. The volume of material currently available (and listed in this and in the previous volumes) offers
some likelihood that locations at which there may be a site that is currently unrecognised may be
postulated. Attention will first be paid to such possible locations.

Table 4.2: Totals of Casual Finds of Roman Coins in North-West England, taken from all four
volumes of Roman Coins from North-West England (1990; 1995; 2000; 2011)

Period Cheshire Lancashire Cumbria Total

No. % No. % No. % No. %

I 28 5.39 20 4.85 21 5.22 69 5.18

II 2 0.39 8 1.94 5 1.24 15 1.12
III 13 2.50 7 1.70 11 2.74 31 2.33
IV 36 6.94 28 6.80 29 7.21 93 6.98
V 38 7.33 36 8.74 54 13.43 128 9.60
VI 27 5.20 32 7.77 36 8.96 95 7.13
VII 38 7.33 38 9.22 30 7.46 106 7.95
VIII 24 4.62 19 4.61 33 8.21 76 5.70
IX 5 0.96 5 1.20 5 1.24 15 1.12
X 28 5.39 11 2.67 20 4.98 59 4.43
XI 3 0.58 2 0.49 5 1.24 10 0.74
XII 9 1.73 9 2.18 6 1.49 24 1.80
XIII 83 15.99 77 18.69 58 14.43 218 16.35
XIV 10 1.93 24 5.83 14 3.48 48 3.60
XV 42 8.09 30 7.28 24 5.97 96 7.20
XVI 4 0.77 1 0.25 5 0.38
XVII 60 11.56 44 10.68 23 5.72 127 9.53
XVIII 24 4.62 11 2.67 12 2.99 47 3.53
XIX 33 6.36 6 1.46 11 2.74 50 3.75
XX 2 0.39 3 0.73 2 0.50 7 0.53
XXI 10 1.93 2 0.49 2 0.50 14 1.05

Totals 519* 412 402 1333

(Note: *The total for Cheshire includes the coins reported from Landican II.C, 23)

(Note: There may be some minor inaccuracies in the figures given for periods XV, XVI, XVII and XVIII;
this is due to the occasional paucity of recorded detail in the case of coins of these periods, prior to the
advent of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in 1999)

The Totals

For each of the three county areas, the overall totals are broadly similar, with Cheshire producing
slightly more recorded coins than the other two counties. This is probably due to the fact that the large
legionary concentration at Chester, with its requirements for supplies and consumer durables, was
closer to hand and thus had the effect of stimulating the local economy particularly sharply. Further,

195
veteran settlement from a legionary base will have led to a denser (and probably more prosperous)
population in the hinterland. The fluctuations between periods, however, also exhibit patterns that are
very similar to each other, and similar, too, to those that we find at the individual sites within the region.
Pre-Flavian coinage in Cheshire runs at a rate that is a little higher than that in the other two county
areas, presumably because coherent Roman military activity in Cheshire started earlier, and perhaps
over a wider area, than it did further north. No doubt, it also reflects the importance to the Roman army of
such local commodities as salt, both for the preservation of foodstuffs and for the preparation of leather,
which will have been required for the the manufacture and repair of tents, as well as for footwear and
other equipment.

However, the relationship between coin-loss in the Flavian and Trajanic periods (IV and V) is stronger
in the latter, which may indicate that, despite a noted Flavian superiority of coin-loss at a number of
early sites (see above on pp. 73ff), the Trajanic surge reflects the establishment of new military sites
in a period of consolidation, and the consequently enhanced activity in the hinterlands of those Roman
sites as the military presence succeeded in creating a more orderly environment: as the consolidation
of conquest from the late Flavian period onwards inevitably involved more troops on the ground, there
was, as a consequence, an increasing rle for local people within the context of the developing military
economy.

The strength of Trajanic and Hadrianic coin-loss in Cumbria (V and VI) is particularly notable and,
alongside the effects of consolidation, presumably reflects the increased activity connected with the
development of the frontier, a process that continued during the Antonine period (VII and VIII). The
profile through the remainder of the second century is again similar to that recorded at Roman sites,
declining sharply in period IX. An unusual feature is the dip in coin-loss recorded in Cumbria in the reign
of Antoninus Pius. This will have been due in part to the decision to re-occupy southern Scotland in the
140s and 150s: the late Professor Brian Hartley (1972) demonstrated convincingly from the evidence
of Samian ware that Hadrians Wall (and presumably its hinterland) lost troops during this episode,
although we might have expected that the subsequent withdrawal from Scotland in the later 150s and
160s would have led to a revived loss of coins of Antoninus in the reign of his successor, Marcus
Aurelius (VIII). A Severan surge is very clear, whilst periods XI and XII show the same decline in coin-
loss that is seen at Roman sites; it is worth bearing in mind, however, that (as noted above on p.7) the
appearance of the radiate, double sestertius, in the 240s may have encouraged the re-emergence into
circulation of old and worn sestertii. Also visible are the familiar peaks in periods XIII, XV and XVII.
Thereafter, coin-loss shows the usual gradual decline, although, in the case of Cheshire, this is from
a higher starting-point than further north again, presumably, to be accounted for by the presence of
legionary troops at Chester, and perhaps also by the continuing vibrancy of the salt-industry (Penney
and Shotter 1996; 2001). It should be noted that Cheshire has fewer recorded coins in period XIV, which
may provide a hint of the increased attention being paid to coastal defence further north, a suggestion
already noted above (on p. 140f). Not unexpectedly, given the vagaries of the coin-supply to Britain, the
final years are not strongly represented (Brickstock 2000), although it may be significant that coins from
periods XX and XXI have been recorded from all three county areas, with a definite peak in Cheshire
in period XXI. Nonetheless, as Brickstock has noted (2000, 35), the absence of copying beyond period
XIX demonstrates either that the supply of coinage in the latest years was sufficient for the needs of the
population or that a system of barter was re-asserting itself or perhaps a combination of these factors.

In all, it may be argued that these coin-loss figures demonstrate the importance of Romanisation in
the north, even if the form that it took may have been different in the north compared with the south,
and even if its impact in the north may have been uneven in terms of location. However, it is becoming
clearer that, following conquest in the first century, far from viewing the Roman troops with suspicion
or even worse, the descendants of tribal leaders, such as Cartimandua and Venutius, appear to have
found that participation in what the Roman Empire had to offer brought them benefits, both material and
cultural. Further, archaeological research is showing with increasing clarity and frequency (Wilmott and
Wilson 2000) that the Romano-British in the north had no intention, as Britains formal links with Rome
declined three centuries later, of fundamentally discarding a culture that they regarded as their own. If

196
nothing else, Bedes description of St Cuthberts visit to Carlisle demonstrates this.

The Finds and their Findspots

Although many locations in these lists provide evidence of just a single find, some appear on numerous
occasions, even extending across the centuries of Roman occupation. It is difficult to judge, however, in
numerical terms at least, at what point a group of coins from a particular location may become significant,
suggesting the possible presence nearby of a previously unrecognised Roman or Romano-British site.
However, it has to be borne in mind that there can be alternative explanations of localised coin-clusters:
they could, despite appearances, represent nothing more meaningful than casual losses, or they might
derive from a spread hoard or some other type of multiple loss or deposition.

On the other hand, whilst a single coin-find might point to the presence of an unrecognised site, the
present study will concentrate on cases where three or more coins have been reported from a single
location, preferably extending over a period of time that would normally be thought of as too long for a
hoard. At the outset, a cautionary note should be sounded: it is sometimes the case that finders, whether
they be antiquarian writers or metal-detectorists, are unable or reluctant to provide a precise findspot,
but give a broad location only. The actual findspot in some of such cases might turn out to be a known
Roman site. Obvious examples in these lists are finds given locations, such as Kendal, which might in
fact mean the Roman fort at Watercrook, or Burrow-with-Burrow, which might mean the Roman fort at
Burrow-in-Lonsdale. Further, in the cases of large modern urban spreads, such as Manchester, a find-
location, given as Manchester, might in fact lie at a considerable distance from the Roman fort and its
extramural settlement.

The overall geographical distribution of reported coin-finds in Cumbria and Lancashire appears to be
concentrated in areas where settlement would be naturally expected Roman roads, river valleys,
site-hinterlands, coastlines. In Cheshire, on the other hand, the findspots seem to reflect a rather more
general scatter of coins, perhaps because the landscape held a denser Romanised rural population,
within the more organised context of the civitas Cornoviorum.

Table 4.3: Cheshire: Number of Coins per Recorded Location

No. of Coins No. of Recorded %

Locations

1-2 109 66.06

3-5 44 26.67
6-10 6 3.63
11-15 3 1.82
16-20 1 0.61
21+ 2 (35 and 46 coins) 1.21

There are 165 recorded locations for casual coin-finds in Cheshire; of these the following have yielded
clusters of seven or more coins: Acton Bridge (35), Cheadle (11), Christleton (7), Church Minshull (7 +
hoard), Eccleston (10 + hoard), Handbridge (20 + possible hoard), Hoole (15), Huntington (15), Landican
(46)*, Neston (7 + hoard), Stapeley (7). Of these, Eccleston, Handbridge and Huntington are probably
to be explained by their proximity to known sites Heronbridge in the case of Eccleston, and Chester
in the cases of Handbridge and Huntington. Of particular interest in this group of sites are the 35 coins
reported from Acton Bridge to the north west of Northwich; these coins have issue-dates throughout the
Roman period, and are suggestive of a site in the vicinity.

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(Note: *Until the nature of a possible site at Landican becomes clearer, the 46 coins found there are
included in the casual finds from Cheshire, making that total 511; the 46 coins from Landican have come
from a spread of findspots within the area).

In view of the possible significance to be attached to finds of pre-Neronian aes-coins (above on p. 73),
we should note that five locations in Cheshire, other than known Roman sites, have yielded examples:

Bollingham Dupondius or as of Augustus (RIC 12 (Augustus), 154ff)

Cheadle Sestertius of Augustus (RIC 12 (Augustus), 377)
Huntington As of Tiberius (RIC 12 (Tiberius), 81)
As of Gaius (RIC 12 (Gaius), 58)
Parkgate As of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 97)
Romiley Dupondius of Augustus (RIC 12 (Augustus), 381)

Cheshire has produced casual finds of coins of periods XIX to XXI at the following twelve locations:

Acton Bridge Two nummi of Valentinian I (LRBC II. 92 and 96)

Alderley Edge Nummus of Valentinian I (LRBC II. 994)
Barton Nummus of Valentinian I (LRBC II. 92)
Church Minshull Valentinianic siliqua
Disley Nummus of Valentinian I
Handbridge Two nummi of Theodosius (LRBC II. 1971 and 1980)
Hazel Grove Nummus of Valens (LRBC II. 1300ff)
Hoole Valentinianic nummus (SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE)
Mollington Nummi of Valentinian I (LRBC II. 1313) and Valens (LRBC
II. 516)
Rudheath Nummus of Magnus Maximus (LRBC II. 155)
Nummus of Flavius Victor (LRBC II. 158)
Stockport Theodosian nummus
Wallasey Nummus of Valentinian I (LRBC II. 1836)

Table 4.4: Lancashire: Number of Coins per Recorded Location

No. of Coins No. of Recorded %

Locations

1-2 122 67.40

3-5 33 18.23
6-10 17 9.39
11-15 5 2.76
16-20 3 1.67
21+ 1 (24 coins) 0.55

Thus, leaving aside the known Roman sites, there have been 181 separate locations in Lancashire at
which Roman coin-finds have been recorded. Although it is not, of course, possible on present evidence
to offer an explanation for these, there are seventeen which have clusters of seven or more coins:
Bolton (8), Borwick (11), Burnley (9 + hoards), Burrow-with-Burrow (8), Bury (7), Colne (18 + possible
hoards), Crosby (8), Formby (10), Garstang (19 + possible hoards), Halsall (11), Liverpool Area (24),
Preston (13), Silverdale area (11 + hoard), Upholland (7), Warrington (17), Whalley (12), Worsley (7).
Of these, as stated above, there are no precise locations for the coin-finds attributed to Burrow-with-
Burrow; these may have come from the proximity of the known fort and extramural settlement at Burrow-
in-Lonsdale. On the other hand, the precise findspots given for the Warrington finds make it unlikely that

198
these coins in fact derived directly from the site at Wilderspool. There is a local perception that there
was a Roman site somewhere in the vicinity of Whalley, perhaps on the site of the church. Further, the
volume of coin-finds in the areas of Burnley and Colne certainly suggests that there is more to be learnt
about this area in the Roman period. Similarly, the number and chronological spread of Roman coins
found in and around Silverdale, coupled now with finds from Arnside and the hoards recently discovered
at the north-east end of Morecambe Bay, suggest the likelihood of naval activities military and/or
commercial in this area. It should be noted that more finds from this area have been recorded since
entries for this volume closed.

Of particular interest are the coin-finds recorded from locations in or adjacent to the Lancashire Fylde
(Middleton, Wells and Huckerby 1995, 206-7): in addition to the known camp, watch-tower, fort and
extramural settlement at Kirkham, there are recorded coin-finds from Blackpool (8), Clifton (1), Cockerham
(4), Cockersands (1), Fleetwood (5 + two hoards), Freckleton (hoard), Hackensall Hall (hoard), Garstang
(19 + two possible hoards), Hambleton (1), Kates Pad (1), Knott End (1), Lytham (possible hoard),
Nateby (4), Pilling (2), Poulton-le-Fylde (4 + possible hoard), Preesall (7 + hoard), Rossall (hoard),
Shard Bridge (3), Singleton (1), Skippool (1), Staining (3), Stalmine (3), Stanah (1), Thornton Cleveleys
(1 + possible hoard), Treales (1 + possible hoard), Weeton (3), Wesham (1), Woodplumpton (1), Wrea
Green (4). These locations indicate considerable activity along the line of, and adjacent to, the River
Wyre; this, of course, along with the apparent line of the Roman road running westwards from the fort at
Kirkham, serves to keep alive the question of a possible Roman site in the vicinity of that river.

It is worth listing the findspots of pre-Neronian aes-coins in Lancashire that are not related in location to
any known Roman site:

Appleton Sestertius of Claudius

Bury As (copy) of Antonia (RIC 12 (Claudius), 92)
Garstang Aes of Octavian (Crawford 1974, no. 535, 1)
As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 100)
Liverpool (West
Derby) As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 100)
Poulton-le-Fylde Dupondius of Gaius (RIC 12 (Gaius), 57 = RIC 11 (Tiberius), 36)
Preston Aes of Claudius
Stodday As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 100)
Stretford As of Tiberius (RIC 12 (Tiberius), 71)
As of Gaius (RIC 12 (Gaius), 38)
Warrington Dupondius of Gaius (RIC 12 (Gaius), 57 = RIC 11 (Tiberius), 36)

As to the latest coins found as casual losses in Lancashire, there are eight, together with two hoards,
on record from periods XIX to XXI:

Barnston Nummus of Gratian

Bolton Nummus of Theodosius (LRBC II. 1067)
[Brindle Hoard; III.A.ii, 4]
[Garstang Probable hoard; III.A.iii, 49]
Higher Broughton Nummus of Gratian or Honorius
Morecambe Nummus of Arcadius
Preston Theodosian nummus
Shard Bridge Nummus of Gratian (LRBC II. 1512)
Upholland Nummus of Valens (LRBC II. 705)
Whalley Nummus of Valentinian I

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Table 4.5: Cumbria: No. of Coins per Recorded Location

No. of Coins No. of Recorded %

Locations

1-2 80 61.54
3-5 34 26.15
6-10 11 8.46
11-15 1 0.77
16-20 1 0.77
21+ 3 (22, 31 and 65 coins) 2.31

Aside from the known Roman sites, there are in Cumbria 130 locations from which Roman coins have
been recovered; thirteen of these have clusters of more than seven coins Arnside (16 + hoard),
Barrow-in-Furness (31), Beetham (9), Brampton (9), Cartmel (7 + hoard), Kirksteads (two hoards),
Kirksteads (Cobble Hall [9]), Great Urswick (10), Helsington (7), Irthington (14), the Kendal area (65),
Kirkby Lonsdale (22), Natland (7), Ulverston (10 + hoard). It is likely that the large totals recorded
for Brampton, the Kendal area, Natland and Kirkby Lonsdale are not unrelated to the proximity of
these areas to known Roman forts; nor, in all probability, is it to be regarded as coincidental that the
clusters at Arnside (see also neighbouring Silverdale in Lancashire), Barrow-in-Furness, Cartmel and
Ulverston occur in locations on or near to the coast, reflecting both commercial activity and the greater
military attention that was probably being paid to the coast, its defences and supply-potential in the
later years of the Roman period. The coastal areas and their hinterlands have also produced smaller
numbers of coins, although at a considerable number of locations; these include Aldingham, Bardsea,
Barnscar (hoard), Birkrigg, Braystones (possible hoard), Broughton-in-Cartmel, Broughton-in-Furness,
Cark, Cockermouth, Dalton-in-Furness, Distington (hoard(s)), Egremont, Eskmeals, Gleaston Castle,
Gosforth, Grange-over-Sands, Harrington, Levens, Mawbray, Millom Castle (hoard), Muncaster Castle
(hoard?), Newby Bridge, Parton, St Bees, St Bridget Beckermet, Seascale, Silloth (hoard), Starling
Castle, Whitehaven (+ hoard), Workington, as well as some elements of the Hadrianic coastal system
on the northern and north-western coast of the county.

Another clustering of coin-find locations lies in the hinterland of Penrith and Brougham, which may
have been the traditional centre of the tribe of the Carvetii (Edwards 2006), and which incidentally
has produced the only three surviving pieces of epigraphic evidence relating to the tribe, which was
evidently organised as a civitas by the Emperor, Septimius Severus, in the early third century (Higham
and Jones 1985; Edwards and Shotter 2005; RIB 933, 3525, 3526).This area also saw the junction
of two highly significant roads those from York (across Stainmore) and from Chester. This cluster
includes coin-finds at Askham, Castle Carrock, Cliburn (hoard), Clifton, Colby, Crackenthorpe, Crosby-
on-Eden, Dacre, Fremington (hoard), Great Strickland (hoard), Hackthorpe (hoard), Penrith, Plumpton,
Shap, Scratchmore Scar (hoard), Stainmore and Temple Sowerby.

Cumbria has also produced a significant number of pre-Neronian aes-issues as casual finds:

Barrow-in-Furness As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 100)

Cartmel Sestertius of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 109)
Great Urswick Dupondius of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 94)
Kendal As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 100)
Kingmoor As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 95)
Scaleby As of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 106)
Shap (Gateside) As (copy) of Claudius (RIC 12 (Claudius), 95)

Eleven casual finds in the county, together with two hoards, represent the latest periods of coin-issue
found in Britain:

200
Barbon Nummus of Eudoxia (LRBC II. 2217)
Beetham Nummus of Valens (as LRBC II. 97)
Broughton-
in-Cartmel Magnus Maximus
Cartmel Nummus of Valentinian I
[Distington Hoard; III.B.ii, 21]
Hackthorpe Valentinianic nummus (SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE)
Kendal Nummus of Valens
Kirksteads
(Cobble Hall) Nummus of Valentinian I
Muncaster Solidus of Theodosius (RIC 9 (Trier), 50)
Parton Nummus of Gratian (LRBC II. 529)
Tebay Solidus of Valens
[Whitehaven Probable hoard(s); III.B.iii, 29]
Workington Nummus of Valens (LRBC II. 288)

The average numbers of recorded coins per location in the three county areas are:

Cheshire 3.15
Lancashire 2.28
Cumbria 3.09

In recent years, Richard Reece (1988, 91-2) has drawn attention to the place in the money-system of
early denarii that is, coins issued prior to Neros coinage-reform of AD 64, when the gold coinage was
devalued and the silver coinage debased. Dio Cassius (History of Rome 68.15, 3) records that, in c. AD
110, Trajan recalled and melted down all the worn coinage; although this probably took some time to
become fully effective in Britain, it appears from the evidence of denarius-hoards that, beyond the reign
of Hadrian, the only pre-Neronian coins to appear in hoards in any numbers were the legionary denarii of
Marcus Antonius, minted in the east in 321 BC. These, it seems, perhaps because of Augustan spin,
were (wrongly) regarded as base (Pliny Natural History 33.132), and thus appear to have escaped the
recall, remaining in use, often worn completely smooth, until the 230s/240s. Thus, it is a reasonable
proposition that other pre-AD 64 denarii were in circulation into the second quarter of the second century
(plate 4.14). In the North West, the hoards of denarii from the fort at Birdoswald (which terminated
in AD122 and 119; III.B.i, 4 and III.B.iii, 1; Shotter 1990, 179 and 201) appear to represent the latest
substantial appearances of such coins. It is thought by some that, perhaps because of their superior
intrinsic value, these older denarii were used for paying legionaries, although it has to be said that recent
field-work in the vicinity of the Agricolan legionary fortress at Inchtuthil (Perthshire), the advance base
of Legion XX Valeria-Victrix for a short time in the 80s, has yielded many aes-issues, but few denarii
(David Woolliscroft, pers. comm.).

4.14 Denarius of Gaius Caligula

(obverse and reverse) from
Stillington, Yorkshire (AD 3741;
RIC 12 (Gaius), 18).
Photograph: Stuart Noon

201
Aside from those denarii which feature in such groups, all the county areas in these volumes have
produced some as unconnected casual losses:

Cheshire (14 Locations)

Boughton Denarius of Augustus (RIC 12 (Augustus), 300 of 19 BC)

Cranage Republican denarius (Crawford no. 408 of 67 BC)
Grafton Denarius of Antonius (Crawford no. 544, 25)
Huntington Republican denarii (Crawford nos 464, 5 and 494 of
46 BC and 42 BC)
Kelsall Republican denarii (Crawford no. 407 and 463, 1a of
68 BC and 46 BC)
Malpas Republican denarius (Crawford no. 454, 12 of 47 BC)
Neston Republican denarii (Crawford nos 158,1, 393 and 439 of
179170 BC, 7675 BC and 50 BC)
Sealand Aureus of Tiberius (RIC 12 (Tiberius), 19 of AD 334)
Tiverton Denarius of Tiberius (RIC 12 (Tiberius), 30 of AD 1437)
Upton Republican denarius (Crawford no. 335, 3a of the late
90s BC)
Weaverham Republican denarius
Denarius of Augustus (RIC 12 (Augustus), 69a of 19 BC)
Wheelock Republican denarius (Crawford no. 422, 1a of 58 BC)
Winsford Republican denarius (Crawford no. 480, 35 of 44 BC)
Wirral (unspecified) Denarius of Antonius (Crawford no. 544)

Lancashire (14 locations)

Blackrod Denarius (?) of Augustus

Clitheroe Denarius of Antonius (Crawford no. 544)
Darwen Republican denarius (Crawford no. 408, 1a of 67 BC)
Euxton Republican denarius (Julius Caesar)
Fleetwood Denarius (?) of Augustus
Formby Republican denarius (Crawford no. 286, 1 of
116/115 BC)
Garstang Denarius of Antonius (Crawford no. 544)
Gisburn Republican denarius (Crawford no. 337, 3 of 91 BC)
Lydiate Republican denarius (Crawford no. 342, 4a of 90 BC)
Mitton Republican denarius (Crawford no. 544, 21)
Pilling Republican denarius (Crawford no. 269, 1(?) of 125 BC)
Stalmine Republican denarius (Crawford no. 269, 1 of 125 BC)
Trawden Republican denarius (Crawford no. 518 of 41 BC)
Whalley Republican denarius (Crawford no. 433, 1 of 54 BC)

(Note: It is possible that, in view of the proximity of the recorded findspots, the coins from Pilling and
Stalmine might be duplicates).

Cumbria (12 Locations)

Barrow-in-Furness Denarius of Augustus (RIC 12 (Augustus), 207 of 76 BC)

Beaumont Denarius of Antonius (Crawford no. 544)
Burton-in-Kendal Denarius of Tiberius
Dalton-in-Furness Republican denarius (Crawford no. 342, 5b of 90 BC)

202
Hincaster Denarius of Octavian and Antonius (Crawford no. 517 of 41 BC)
Hutton Roof Denarius of Antonius (Crawford no. 544)
Irthington Denarius of Tiberius (RIC 12 (Tiberius), 26ff of AD 1437)
Kendal Three Republican denarii (inc. Crawford no. 317, 3b of
104 BC)
Denarius of Antonius (Crawford no. 544)
Kirkby Lonsdale Republican denarius (Crawford no. 199, 1a of 155 BC)
Natland Two denarii of Antonius (Crawford no. 544, 14 and 18)
Stainmore Republican denarius
Ulverston Denarius of Augustus (RIC 12 (Augustus), 207 of 76 BC)

Table 4.6: Denominational Distribution of Casual Finds (Periods I X)

Cheshire

Period Aurei Denarii Sestertii Dupondii Asses As-value

I 1 21 1 3 743
II 2 2
III 2 4 4 868
IV 1 12 3 7 7 625
V 1 9 14 4 3 611
VI 9 8 2 4 184
VII 11 13 3 5 239
VIII 3 15 1 3 93
IX 2 1 1 38
X 21 4 1 1 355

Totals 5 92 59 19 32 3758

Lancashire
Period Aurei Denarii Sestertii Dupondii Asses As-value
I 16 1 4 264
II 1 7 9
III 1 1 1 22
IV - 8 4 4 2 154
V 12 9 1 1 231
VI 12 9 1 1 231
VII 11 7 4 2 214
VIII 3 4 1 1 67
IX 1 1 6
X 7 2 120

Totals 70 38 14 18 1318

(Note: The totals on the Lancashire table are incomplete because of the fact that some of the
information, which was gathered from antiquarian reports, gave the issuers of coins, but without the
denominations).

203
Cumbria

Period Aurei Denarii Sestertii Dupondii Asses As-value

I 1 19 704
II 1 1 5 11
III 4 4 2 2 1674
IV 1 11 3 1 9 599
V 1 15 20 10 10 750
VI 1 6 14 9 2 572
VII 7 12 5 170
VIII 2 12 14 2 3 1059
IX 4 3 76
X 1 17 672

Totals 11 95 68 28 31 6287

Table 4.7: As-value per coin

All coins Without aurei % denarii

Cheshire 18.15 8.70 44.44
Lancashire 9.41 9.41 50.00
Cumbria 26.98 8.50 40.77

The figures for as-value per coin (exclusive of aurei) may be compared with those for individual Roman
and Romano-British sites of different types and in differing locations (2000, 106-7):

Birdoswald 8.88
Carlisle 4.65
Chester 6.66
Holt 3.85
Lancaster 7.36
Manchester 7.11
Middlewich 8.96
Papcastle 6.48
Walton-le-Dale 5.86
Wilderspool 6.40

The as-value per coin measure for the three county areas is very similar; indeed, that for Lancashire
would probably be lower (and thus more closely in line) if the information contained in the antiquarian
reports were in a more usable form. Using this criterion as a measure of wealth, it can be seen that the
situation away from known Roman and Romano-British sites appears to accord closely with that for the
known sites. Of course, the significance of the coin-finds listed in chapter IV is not immediately apparent
whether they derive from sites nearby that have not as yet been recognised, or whether they represent
casual, one-off, losses by people on the move. The latter could, of course, be the Romano-British
inhabitants of the county areas or retired soldiers; alternatively, some of such losses could equally have
derived from campaigning or policing elements of the army. In the context of the identities of coin-losers,
the large number of aurei noted in Cumbria is striking (even discounting the two such coins recorded
from Scalesceugh). It is presumably likely that these may have derived from former administrators or
military personnel, but the level of wealth indicated as present, particularly in Cumbria and Cheshire,
may go some way towards illuminating the potential viability of the establishment respectively of the
civitas Carvetiorum and the civitas Cornoviorum. We may also assume that these two county areas
enjoyed an economic stimulant that was not present in Lancashire namely, an active and a former

204
legionary fortress in the case of the Cornovii and Hadrians Wall in the case of the Carvetii. Also, we
should not lose sight of the important natural resources present salt and the nearby metallic resources
of north Wales in the case of Cheshire, and iron and other metals in Cumbria.

An inflationary indicator, recognised on known sites, is present also amongst these casual finds the
gradual loss of the lower denominations of the coinage and the increasing reliance on denarii and
sestertii. In Cheshire and Lancashire, far more obviously than in Cumbria, this appears to occur
alongside a general reduction in the volume of coin-loss in the later years of the second century. Again,
the reason for this may be a heightened concentration on matters related to the northern frontier as the
second century wore on. Despite the legionary presence at Chester, it is hard to escape the impression
that the centre of gravity in the Roman North West was gradually moving northwards. It is to be hoped
that future finds of coins and of other evidence (hopefully structural) will permit progress to be made in
the understanding (or rejection) of trends that appear to be suggested by the evidence that is presently
available.

205