A Roman coin hoard uncovered during trenching as part of a geo-technical survey consisted of a large number of Roman copper alloy coins which had been placed in a grey pottery vessel which had been broken into by the bucket of the JCB. The lower half of a grey pottery vessel was discovered in situ which contained a large quantity of coins. Further excavations discovered that the vessel containing the hoard had been placed between some upright tiles in a large pit. The pit had been cut through the upper fill of a large ditch.. There were large quantities of Roman brick and tile in this deposit. The upper ditch filled sealed a soft brown sandy lower fill that contained large quantities of Roman pottery. Roman activity on the site predated the depositon of the hoard.
The coin hord itself was found to compromise almost 3600 copper alloy coins which had been contained in a narrow necked pottery vessel. A preliminary examination suggested all the coins were minted between the years 330-348 AD. Issues present include Gloria Exercitus, Urbs Roma and Constantinopolis type, with the latest appearing to be the 'Tein Victories' issue. The year 348 saw a major currency reform, with previuos issues being demonitized which may have been the reason for the deposition of the hoard. There appeared to be no gorgeries, all the coins being of official issue and an apparent lack of coins predating 330 AD. The hoard is probably derived from an official source, such as a pay chest.
The hoard is currently being studied in the department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum (1-2).


A smaller find of 16 coins was found during excavation of the site. All Nummi, mostly of the House of Constantine (AD330-335), with the latest of Magnentius (AD 350-353). (2)

<1> Kent Archaeological Society, 2006, Kent Archaeological Society Newsletter (Article in serial). SKE13003.

<2> Archaeology South-East, 2009, A Post-Excavation Assessment Report And Updated Project Design On Archaeological Excavations At High St, Snodland, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE16398.