This is an interesting theory, but it has some flaws: “Several years ago, two amateur archaeologists from Brabant discovered over a hundred Roman coins near to Berlicum in the north of the province. After years of research, it now appears that the location, close to a ford in the river, was a site for offerings. Another interesting fact is that the coins offered were chosen very precisely. ‘This was an important eureka moment in my academic career.' Amateur sleuths Nico and Wim van Schaijk found the 109 Roman coins towards the end of 2017 in a field near to Berlicum, close to the River Aa.” As shown in previous posts, ancient Romans carried coins various centuries. The following statement, therefore, is possibly an incorrect interpretation of the evidence: “The coins were from a very broad time period: the oldest coins date from the Republic [up to 27 BC, Ed.] and the most recent from the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius [up to 180 AD]. This indicates that the coins must have been deposited by different people over a long period." Otherwise, this is an interesting theory from two numismatists. https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2021/06/roman-coins-as-offering-for-safe-crossing
Thanks Bart , a well known ritual to offer a coin for safe passage to the other side of a river. This one was found in the province Limburg southern Netherlands, bank of the river Maas (Meuse)
Very interesting. Their hypothesis might apply to other hoards too. But you're right to point out that their conclusions are presented rather dogmatically. In all of their assumptions they could be wrong: "With [hoards of valuable treasure], the coins would be in a chest or amphora, but that wasn't the case here. These coins were lying spread over a large area and were just loose in the earth." - This can happen because the hoard was in something perishable, like a bag, and then disturbed and spread out e.g. by a plough. Constantius I Follis, 305-306 London. Bronze, 9.50g (RIC VI 52a). From the Falmouth Hoard, found in 1865 by 2 men ploughing a field. The 600-1000 bronze coins were surrounded by black material that crumbled in their hands. Constantine I Follis, 320 London. Bronze, 3.0g (RIC VII 171). From the Martock Hoard, found 2012. 419 coins were found scattered in a ploughed field along with pieces of pottery, thought to come from several vessels. Constans Centenionalis, 348-350 Trier. Bronze, 5.26g (RIC VIII 219). From the Bridgnorth Hoard. Found in 2007, it comprised 2,892 late Roman coins that had been disturbed and scattered by deep ploughing in a potato field. "Also, they turned out not to be particularly valuable coins. What we found were mainly bronze coins; there were no gold ones, for example. That's not what you'd expect if the find were a treasure trove." - Many hoards contain mainly bronze coins. Tetricus II Antoninianus, 273-274 Cologne. Bronze, 2.6g (RIC 270). From the Beachy Head Hoard, found in 1973. 5,540 bronze antoniniani were buried around 273 in a bronze bucket. Postumus Antoninianus, 260-265 Cologne. Billon, 3.3g (RIC 67). From the South Pertherton Hoard, found in 2013. It comprised 7,563 coins from 161-274, mostly debased antoniniani of the Gallic Empire. The fact that they were "relatively worthless at the time" is thought to be behind the failure of the hoarder to retrieve them. "Finally, the coins were from a very broad time period: the oldest coins date from the Republic [up to 27 BC, Ed.] and the most recent from the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius [up to 180 AD]. This indicates that the coins must have been deposited by different people over a long period.'’ - As mentioned, many hoards cover a long period of time. Galba Denarius, 68-69 Rome. Silver, 3.03g (RCV I 2109). From the Westbury Sub Mendip Hoard, which contained issues spanning from Marc Antony (32-31BC) to Septimius Severus (AD193). That's 225 years, a broader timeframe than the hoard in the article. They might have been votive. Perhaps they belonged to a ferryman. Maybe people just lost the odd coin when they were waiting to cross. Or perhaps someone just thought it was an easy place to find again when they wanted to retrieve their coins. It is, though, interesting to think about other reasons people may have had to deposit coins rather than simply to hide their wealth. Tetricus I Radiate, 274-280 Bronze, 0.86g (cf RIC V2 127). This seems to have been part of the Whitchurch Hoard, a very large hoard of early brass sestertii and much later bronze minims. It's hypothesised these were left by an unofficial mint, where the very worn sestertii were melted down to make the minims.
This is Spanish rather than Roman made coin. Good example of how precise identification matters because the whole story depends on where the coin came from and thus the travel route.
Rarely do we have the opportunity to see scholars at work quite as correctly as in this clip: Having brainstorming sessions leading to theories is great. Believing your every thought is fact is less so. We listen to the theories of experts for good reason but accepting their theories as fact is not always safe either.
