Discover the largest treasury of coins from the reign of Nero

1,368 Roman and Iron Age silver coins dating to the reign of Nero have been discovered in Worcestershire, western England. Known as the Worcestershire Conquest Hoard because it was buried more than a dozen years after the Roman conquest of Britain, it is the largest Nero-era hoard discovered throughout the Roman Empire. This is one of the most important archaeological finds in Worcestershire, a county with few notable Roman archaeological remains and which, at the time of the burial, was still intermediate between areas controlled by the Romans and those controlled by the Iron Age Britons boundary.

The treasure was discovered late last year by builders in the Leigh and Bransford area of ​​Worcestershire. The coins were placed in a ceramic jar, which may have been made in one of several pottery kilns operating at the foot of the Malvern Hills. Most of the coins are silver dinars minted in Rome, with the earliest dating to 157 BC and the most recent dating to 55 AD. There is a single gold coin for a resident of Worcestershire between 20 and 45 AD. Cast by the local Dobunni tribe. The near-mint condition of the more recent coins suggests that they were unlikely to have circulated for long, so the coins were probably buried in AD 55 or shortly thereafter.

In the late 50s AD, Nero appointed Quintus Veranius and Gaius Suetonius Paulinus as governors and actively conquered Wales. Worcestershire is in the midst of a fierce battle.

Dr Murray Andrews, Lecturer in British Archeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London, said:

“This extraordinary new discovery is one of the largest early Roman hoards ever found in the UK. It gives us a glimpse into a brief moment 2,000 years ago when the borders of the Roman Empire stretched from North Africa and the Near East to the Malvern Hills and the River Severn.

Our preliminary research suggests that the treasures relate to military spending – possibly official payments to wealthy local farmers or merchants who supplied grain and livestock to the Roman fortress at Worcester. It was buried during a time of Troubles on the Welsh Marches, when local groups like Silas fought back against advancing Roman armies, so the original owners may have been trying to protect their money from the threat of conflict and border raids.

These hoards open an important window into the history and archeology of Roman Britain, and further research will help us understand more about how and why these coins were buried where and when. This is a once-in-a-lifetime find and a true Worcestershire treasure. “

In June 2024, it was declared an official treasure by the Worcestershire Coroner and its fair market value was assessed by the Valuation Committee at £100,000. Of course, Worcestershire Museum is most keen to acquire the collection for permanent exhibition. In order to apply for full grants and funding, they must demonstrate strong local interest. Worcestershire Heritage, Arts and Museums Charity has launched a fundraising campaign to raise £6,000 to show grant authorities that the people of Worcestershire want it to remain in the county where it has been for 1,945 years history. The news didn’t come out until Monday, which was Cyber ​​Monday for the crowdfunding campaign. As of Tuesday afternoon, they had raised £5,493, 91 per cent of their target.

The treasure is currently being cataloged and conserved at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum and will be put on temporary display in January. If the campaign to obtain the treasure is successful, the treasure will be transferred to Worcestershire Museum at Hartlebury Castle