9 treasures in 9 days- Day 7

Hampshire Cultural Trust's Curatorial Liaison Manager,  Ross shines the spotlight on one archaeological object a day throughout the Festival of Archaeology.

These objects were reported and recorded through the Portable Antiquities Scheme, purchased from the Crown through the Treasure reporting process and accessioned into the collections cared for by HCT. With Hampshire Cultural Trust purchasing them, the objects are now available for displays at our museums and for research.

Object 7

Object: coin

Period: Roman

Date: 337-350 AD

WINCM:C6809-6810

Two gold coins (Solidus) from the reigns of Constans (337-350) Mint of Trier and Constantine II (337-340) Mint of Siscia.  The coins were found by the Meon Valley Archaeology and Heritage Group as part of the Groups’ programme: The Iron Age to Roman Landscape Project, and with the help of metal-detectorists. A Solidus is a late Roman coin that was as near to pure gold as the refining processes could get at the time.  These two coins help illustrate a period of fractured Roman rule and family rivalry. Constans was a son of Constantine the Great and upon the death of his father in 337 he and his two brothers split the Empire and ruled it between themselves. Infighting led to the death of Constantine II in 340 AD and greater power for Constans; the third brother Constantius II continued to rule the Eastern Empire.  Although only around 17 when he defeated his brother Constans was only to rule for a further 10 years and was overthrown by one of his generals Magnentius in 350AD.


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Hampshire Cultural Trust

From museums to galleries to arts centres, we manage and support 24 attractions across the county, welcoming over 740,000 people each year. Our charitable purpose is changing lives through culture.
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