Rogiet Hoard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rogiet Hoard |
|
|---|---|
| Size | 3,778 coins |
| Period/culture | Romano-British |
| Discovered | Rogiet, Monmouthshire by Colin Roberts on 10 September 1998 |
| Present location | National Museum Wales |
| Identification | 1998–99 Figs 306.1–6 |
The Rogiet Hoard is a huge collection of 3,778 ancient Roman coins. It was found in September 1998 in a place called Rogiet, which is in Monmouthshire, Wales. These coins are very old, dating from the years 253 to 296 AD. What makes this hoard special is that it included some coins with mistakes made during their creation, and also some very rare coins. These rare coins even showed pictures of rulers who took power illegally, like Carausius and Allectus.
Contents
Finding the Treasure
How the Hoard Was Discovered
A person named Colin Roberts, who uses a metal detector to find old things, discovered this amazing collection of coins on September 10, 1998. Imagine finding so many ancient coins!
Declaring it a Treasure
After the discovery, there was an official meeting called a coroner's inquest in December 1998. At this meeting, the coins were officially declared a "treasure." This means they are very important and belong to the nation.
Where the Hoard Is Now
The Rogiet Hoard was valued at £40,000. Today, this incredible collection of coins is kept safe at the National Museum Wales. It's a great place to visit if you want to see ancient history up close!
What Was Found in the Hoard
Types of Coins
The Rogiet Hoard contained 3,778 silver coins, mostly a type called radiates. There were also seven denarii, which are another type of Roman coin. More than a third of all the coins were made during the time of Emperor Probus, who ruled from 276 to 282 AD. The newest coin in the hoard was made around 295 or 296 AD.
Rare Rulers and Special Coins
A large number of coins, 766 of them, were made during the reigns of two rulers known as "usurper emperors." These were Carausius and Allectus. A usurper is someone who takes power without the right to do so. Coins from their time are not often found in hoards. Some of these coins even showed pictures of Roman warships!
Carausius also made coins that showed the images of other powerful emperors, Diocletian and Maximian. He did this to try and get them to like him. One very special coin in the hoard showed all three men together with the Latin words "Carausius et fratres sui" which means "Carausius and his brothers." Experts said this was one of the best examples of this coin ever found!
Unique Finds
The hoard also contained many quinarii or Q-radiates from Allectus's rule. The large number of these coins, along with other "improved issue" coins from later emperors, made this hoard truly special and "unprecedented" for a single discovery. Another very rare coin found was a Divus Nigrinian, which was only the second one ever recorded in Britain.
Coin Breakdown by Ruler
This table shows how many coins from each ruler were found in the Rogiet Hoard:
| Ruler | Date of Reign | Number of Coins |
|---|---|---|
| Valerian | 253–260 | 23 |
| Gallienus | 253–268 | 58 |
| Postumus | 259–268 | 41 |
| Victorinus | 268–270 | 60 |
| Tetricus I/II | 270–273 | 2 |
| Claudius II | 268–270 | 28 |
| Quintillus | 270 | 8 |
| Aurelian | 270–275 | 355 |
| Tacitus | 275–276 | 641 |
| Florian | 276 | 40 |
| Probus | 276–282 | 1,327 |
| Carus | 282–283 | 113 |
| Carausius | 287–293 | 16 |
| Allectus | 293–296 | 751 |
| Diocletian | 284–305 | 170 |
| Maximian | 286–305 | 98 |
| Uncertain | – | 47 |
