For almost two millennia, the tale of the ‘missing British ruler’ who stood against ancient Rome has quietly slipped into obscurity in the pages of history. Carausius’ bold rise to power and his seven-year rule over Britain and parts of Gaul have faded from memory. However, with the remarkable uncovering of 52,000 Roman coins, fresh insights are now being brought to one of the most tumultuous eras in our island’s history.
With his hands dirtied from the mud, Dave Crisp kneels in the field where he unearthed his discovery. Taking a closer look, he examines one of the 52,500 coins he found, all dating back to the 3rd century AD.
Gradually, the pot filled with coins is uncovered from the field close to Frome in Somerset. The coins, numbering in the hundreds and stored in a massive clay jar as heavy as two men, showcase the likeness of Carausius. Dave Crisp, a chef at a hospital, stumbled upon this incredible discovery using a metal detector. Initially finding 21 of the coins on a farm in Somerset, it soon became clear to the 63-year-old that this find was of great historical significance, prompting him to seek out the expertise of archaeologists to carefully excavate the site.
The container was overflowing with coins dating back to the 3rd century Roman era, marking it as one of the largest discoveries ever made in Britain.
The coins are spread out on a table for sorting, with a significant number of coins from Carausius, who governed Britain independently from AD 286 to AD 293, being a key feature of the hoard. After that, the collection was sent to the British Museum for cleaning and documentation.
The coins in the hoard date from AD253 to AD293 and most are ‘radiates’ crafted from low-grade silver or bronze. The hoard, worth four years’ salary for a Roman legionary, could now be valued at least £250,000, and weighs 350lb. It is speculated that the coins may have been buried as an offering for a successful harvest or favorable weather.
Mr. Crisp, 63, described how his metal detector gave an unusual signal that led him to unearth the hoard. “I reached into the soil, pulled out a chunk of clay, and discovered a tiny Radial, a small bronze Roman coin,” he recounted. “It was very minuscule, about the size of my fingernail.”
He mentioned, ‘I’ve come across many discoveries in my time, but this is the first significant coin hoard I’ve found.’ At first, Mr. Crisp discovered 21 coins in a field near Frome in Somerset. However, when he stumbled upon the top of a pot, he began to realize the importance of his find.
Archaeologists carefully excavated the 2-foot-tall pot and its contents. The hoard was then transported to the British Museum for the coins to be cleaned and documented. Mr. Crisp said, ‘It was a tough decision to leave it in the ground for the archaeologists to uncover, but since it had been there for 1,800 years, I figured a few more days wouldn’t make a difference. My family thought I was crazy to walk away and leave it behind.’
The coins were discovered in a large, well-preserved pot, approximately 18 inches across – a container typically used for storing food. The collection consists of over 760 Carausius coins, the most extensive group ever uncovered. Among them are five rare silver denarii, the sole coins of their kind minted in the Roman Empire during that era.
According to Roger Bland, who is the Head of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum where the impressive coin collection will be put on exhibit, this hoard is one of the biggest discoveries in British history. Bland mentioned that this find will provide valuable insights into the currency and events of that era as they analyze it in the coming two years.
In the late 3rd Century AD, Britain faced challenges such as invasions, economic issues, and internal conflicts. The stability of Roman rule was eventually restored when Emperor Diocletian joined forces with Emperor Maximian, a partnership that endured for two decades. This alliance successfully overthrew the separatist government established in Britain by Carausius.
We have a golden opportunity to shed light on Carausius and place him on the historical map. It’s surprising that he is not a part of the curriculum when it comes to learning about Roman Britain. The 1996 Treasure Act states that if a collection of buried coins is discovered, it must be reported to the coroner within two weeks. In this case, if the coins are acquired by the Museum of Somerset as intended, the reward will be split between Mr. Crisp and the landowner. Some of the coins found in April will be showcased at the British Museum from July 22 to mid-August. The largest hoard ever unearthed in Britain contained a staggering 54,912 coins spanning from 180AD to 274AD and was found in two containers near Mildenhall, Wiltshire.
A large 18-inch pot, hidden underground in the field, was filled with coins and had a weight of approximately 25 stone.
In a field near Frome in Somerset, a significant discovery was made – a collection of Roman coins stored in a clay pot. Since its finding in late April, experts from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) at the British Museum have been meticulously examining the coins. Despite the small size of the pot, measuring only 18 inches across, it is estimated to have weighed an astonishing 25 stone. This exciting find comes after last year’s revelation of the Staffordshire Hoard in central England, which consisted of over 1,500 predominantly gold Anglo-Saxon artifacts. Thanks to the careful actions of Mr. Crisp, who refrained from disturbing the coins, archaeologists from Somerset County Council were able to uncover and excavate the pot and its contents. This fascinating excavation process will be showcased in an upcoming BBC Two series, Digging for Britain, scheduled to air next month.
