It's a cool October morning in a rural part of Worcestershire when workman, digging in the small village of Bransford at the foot of the Malvern Hills stumble upon a find so significant it puts the county quite literally on the historical map. There, likely buried beneath a tree originally in a late iron age or very early Roman ditch (which may have formed the boundary to a farm, field or livestock enclosure according to excavations), is a 'Severn Ware' pot (produced locally) full of coins that archeologists would laer learn span not only the Roman Rebublic, but the Roman Empire and also the globe.
What is so fascinating about this collection of coins is the diverse time period they cover and that two of the coins are from outside of the Roman world. One of the coins is from the Iron Age (a gold Celtic Stater, probably of the local Dobunni tribe, minted just 50km from where the hoard was found and the only gold coin in the hoard) and the other, a silver denarius of Juma I of Numidia minted at Utica in modern Tunisia, which rarely circulate north of the Mediterranean. Of the remaining silver denarii which make up the hoard, two thirds are from the Roman Republic, spanning over a century from 157 BC to 31 BC and minted under famous rulers such as Pompey, Mark Anthony and Julius Caesar and the remaining third, date to the Roman Empire minted under emperors, Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero.
The Worcestershire Conquest Hoard is of major significance, not only because it is one of the largest early Roman hoards ever found in Britain, but also because it is one of the largest collection of coins from the reign of Emperor Nero ever found in Britain. The latest coins in the hoard date to AD 55 and are in such perfect condition it is believed that they were minted in Rome and were shipped to Britain as part of a single parcel of coinage for official puposes, more than likely to pay the wages of soldiers or civil servants, purchasing food or supplies or covering the build costs of new roads or public buildings and werre not widely circulated once they arrived. These later 'mint condition' coins suggest the hoard was buried sometime around AD 55. The fact the hoard contains a Celtic Stater is also unusual and reflects the political conditions that existed in the locality at the time it was buried. Whoevever buried this stash, must have been of substantial wealth, because although the workmen who discovered it would have had no idea at the time, their machinery had hit a vessel containing 1,368 silver (and one gold coin) which would have paid the annual salary of a Roman Legionnaire for not one, but over six years.
The fascinating details uncovered during the archeological investigations of this hoard, raise significant questions about who would have amassed this kind of wealth and what was happening in the region at the time for them to seek to protect it by burying it in the ground.
Excavations in this part of Worcestershire over the years have uncovered many Iron Age and early Roman ditches which suggests the landscape was a collection of scattered farms growing crops and rearing livestock on the fertile soils beside the River Severn and the River Teme. In AD 55, when the hoard was likely buried the political situation in the area was anything but peaceful. The area in the North Western edge of the kingdom of the Dobunni had already changed significantly since the Roman invasion in AD 43. The Romans had quelled the Dobunnic elite and dismantled their hillforts such as that at British Camp on the Malvern Hills, integrating them into the new Roman administrative systems probably enforced by a military presence at Worcester (or Vertis as it is thought Worcester may have been known). In addition to the Roman presence, this area of the Dobunni kingdom also lay very close to the territories of the Cornovii and Silures, therefore it was likely a hotspot for conflict, not just from the Romans asserting their command as the legions marched through the area heading West, but also due to opportunistic raids by the neighbouring Celtic tribes.
Although conflict bought with it chaos and disruption, it also bought financial opportunity. Military garrisons or sites contained hundreds, if not thousands of Roman soldiers needing food, drink, animals and other supplies which they often sourced locally from farmers and trades people. Given what is known about the hoard it is thought that its owner was not only wealthy, but more than likely had links to the local Roman army. Perhaps a senior member of the Dobunnic elite who had a contract to supply the encumbent Roman army with grain, food, animals or other goods. Although profiting very nicely from the trade arrangement, they would be all to aware of the constant threat of unrest and violence and sought to protect their earnings during an ever changing climate of conflict and uncertainty.
What happened to the indiviual or family who buried the hoard we can never be sure, but it is unlikely they simply forgot about or misplaced the significant stash of money hidden in their farmstead's ditch as they were clearly never reunited with their hard earned savings.
The Worcester Hoard is currently on display at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum and is well worth a visit.
Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums Charity is currently fundraising for the acquisition and permanent display of the hoard.
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Hey Soph, nice article.
Imagine finding that, wow. Some of the coins in that image look similar to ones in my hoard. In fact the dates are quite similar. 207bc - 69/70 ad was my date range.
I look forward to reading more from you. Keep up the good work 😊
Loving this new blog, Sophie!
Love history like a bit of diggin
Great article Sophie, Look forward to more of your blog x
What a fascinating discovery Sophie, thank you for sharing details of this incredible hoard. I look forward to following your Blog. Jane, ordinary treasure x