The Leominster Roman coin hoard
This hoard contained 518 low-silver or copper-alloy radiate coins, the latest dating to about AD 290.
No public image is currently linked to this place.
What this record tells us
LEOMINSTER, Herefordshire Richard Abdy and Dr Vincent Drost, Department of Coins and Medals, British Museum 518 BI radiates to 290 AD BM ref. 2013 T492 PAS ref. HESH-91B963 Circumstances of Discovery Found by Messrs Martin Fulloway and Jeremy Daw with the aid of a metal detector with subsequent excavation carried out by FLO (Peter Reavill). Although very close groupings were recorded by the archaeological investigation, little compositional difference was noted between each section and only the major 'clump' groupings are noted in the catalogue. No pottery was found with the coins but there was evidence that the hoard had once been contained within cloth pouches contained within leather bag(s) since a number of surviving fragments of leather had been preserved by the copper alloy corrosion products. A number of preserved leaves were also discovered within the corrosion products Date of latest coins See Normanby. Leominster is similar in composition and likewise contains the earliest phases of both Carausian marked series, L and C. Summary: Central Empire Joint reign of Valerian & Gallienus (AD 253-60) Salonina 1 Sole reign of Gallienus (AD 260-8) 58 Salonina 2 Claudius II (AD 268-70) 55 Divus Claudius (AD 270) 16 Quintillus (AD 270) 7 Aurelian (AD 270-5) 2 Tacitus (AD 275-6) 3 Probus (AD 276-82) 4 Joint reign of Diocletian & Maximian (AD 285-93) Maximian 1 (2nd series Lyon = AD 286) Gallic Empire Postumus (AD 260-9) 7 Marius (AD 269) 1 Victorinus (AD 269-71) 89 Divus Victorinus (AD 271) 1 Tetricus I (AD 271-4) 186 Tetricus II 71 Irregular 6 British Empire Carausius (AD 286-93) 8
Additional research and clarification, 26 September 2026 This hoard contained 518 low-silver or copper-alloy radiate coins, the latest dating to about AD 290. The detectorists reported the discovery, allowing archaeological recovery and conservation. The principal identifiers are PAS HESH-91B963, database FindID 571257 and Treasure reference 2013 T492. A publication or database date in 2015 is not the discovery date.
Corrosion preserved traces of cloth, leather and leaves around the coins. These fragile materials showed that the money had been held in pouches or bags, not a pottery vessel. They make the hoard a rare record of packaging as well as currency. SO 56 is an entire 10 km square extending beyond this study: inclusion rests on its documented Leominster association, not a false precise pin.
How this record is evidenced
Existing map record checked against the research catalogue and cited source.
The investigation details are drawn from Portable Antiquities Scheme via the Archaeology Data Service; the original publication or report remains the authoritative source.
The clean title and short public summary have been prepared by Leominster Heritage and remain separate from the wording of the source record.
The open questions below identify the details that have not yet been securely established.
Map location
SO 56 is a 10 km square extending outside the study envelope. Remove the existing point presentation; do not relocate it to the square centre.
Source and further reading
Richard Abdy and Vincent Drost, Portable Antiquities Scheme record HESH-91B963, FindID 571257, Treasure 2013 T492; field recovery by Peter Reavill.
Unpicking the Leominster hoard, Current Archaeology / The Past, 2017, conservation account.
Entry-specific references: S05; S06
View the original sourceOpen questions
- Can the mapped position be confirmed from an original plan, grid reference or site evidence?
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