Welsh Journals

Search over 450 titles and 1.2 million pages

trench was located at two points but not re-excavated. The ground disturbed by these activities was rapidly reinstated. A report on the discoveries was sent to the Coroner, Mr P.L. Brunton, according to the Treasure Act 1996 and on his instruction the coins 48 in all were taken to Mr Edward Besly at the NMGW. At a Coroner's inquest on 10 December 1998 in Aberystwyth the coins were declared 'treasure' under the new rules of the Treasure Act 1996. Although the coins contained less than 10% silver, they were over 300 years old and more than 10 were found at the same spot, conforming to the new definition of 'treasure'. The coins are to be deposited in the Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth, with a reward going to the original finder. Schedule of Coins (E. Besly and J.L. Davies) All are base metal antoniniani and are for the most part very badly cor- roded. Careful cleaning and conservation in the future may possibly redress the uncertainties in identification and reduce the high proportion of coins which are too corroded for close idenitification, except within the span of the period c. AD260-74. Gallienus (AD 260-68) 3 Claudius II (AD 268-70) 2? Divus Claudius (AD 270) 2? Quintillus (AD 270) 2 Victorinus (AD 269-71) 7? TetricusI(AD271-4) 12? Tetricus II (AD 273-4) 2? Carausius (AD 287-93) 1 Uncertain (c. AD 260-74) 17 Discussion Mr Besly has identified a single early issue of the reign of Carausius in the hoard and this suggests that it may not have been concealed before c.AD 290. Otherwise it has all the characteristics of the all too common hoards deposited either in the reign of this usurper (AD 286-93) or that of his suc- cessor Allectus (AD 293-6). Carausian and Allectan hoards are common in Wales with one certain and one probable example found in Ceredigion in the nineteenth century, at Strata Florida and at Bwlch-bach Farm, Nanteos