S O M E R O M A N B R A S S C O I N S F O U N D A T L I N C O L N .

B Y N A T H A N H E Y W O O D .

N pre-Roman times, when the British Coritani established

their settlement on the site of the present City of Lincoln,

they named it Lincl or Lindun-coit, i.e., the woody hill in

the waters, a felicitous description of its then appearance.

Following these the Romans, in the first century, placed their

fortified camp in the same position, possibly during the campaign of

Aulus Plautius in the reign of Claudius A.D. 43. But when it was

created one of the nine British Coloniae, probably by Hadrian, it was

duly fortified, received the name of Lindum Colonia, and a

permanent garrison of veterans, who, as both soldiers and settlers, were

allowed to hold lands on condition of rendering military service when

called on. Lindum Colonia was only three military stages south of

Eboracum, where was stationed the VI or I X Legion, and both

were in the Province of Flavia Caesarensis. The enclosing walls

extended about 1,300 feet from east to west and 1,200 feet from north

to south, and there were at least four gates—that to the north, the

Newport gate, being the most important; adjoining this, a little to the

east, there existed until comparatively recent date some walls of

Roman masonry, traditionally known as " the Mint." There is, how-

ever, no evidence of any mint previous to the end of the ninth century,

but coins were undoubtedly fabricated here, as contemporary Roman

• coin moulds have occasionally been discovered.

Bailgate, where the coins now to be described were found, is close

to the Newport gate, and in 1878 and subsequent years excavations

revealed the remains of an important building of Roman fabric extending

283 feet in length by 236 feet in width, included in which were the

230 Some Roman Brass Coins Found at Lincoln.

bases of nineteen pillars ranged in a straight line : probably from its

magnitude this was the Basilica.

The Roman stratum is generally from 9 to 12 feet below the

present street level, and at this point, Bailgate, it is from 8 to 9 feet.

At this depth Roman coins are readily discoverable in considerable

numbers whenever the ground is disturbed.

T h e Saxon Chronicle says, under A.D. 418, " T h e Romans collected

all the treasures that were in Britain, and some they hid and some they

carried with them to Gaul." After their departure and during the

miserable years of the early Saxon invasions, the Roman Lindum was

destroyed and left desolate ; subsequently the Saxon settlement arose

on the lower ground nearer the streams ; and about the tenth century

the Norse or Danish invaders appear to have refounded it as a fenced

City and stronghold, as is testified by the frequent use of Gal or gate

for street, and other Scandinavian names. At the coming of William

I. the city was a Danish municipality, and during the Saxon and Danish

times, Lincoln undoubtedly possessed a very active mint.

Recently, by a kindly presentation, I have come into possession of

a parcel, or perhaps a small find of Roman coins discovered at Bailgate,

Ermine Street, Lincoln, in the year 1878, by workmen engaged in

executing some city improvements near the ancient gate on the North

Road. T h e coins were loosely dispersed amongst the remains of

buildings and roadway at a depth of about 8 feet below the level of

the present surface, and were separately picked up. T h e series consists

of about ninety-four coins in first, second and third brass.

Probably the true reason why the ground is so thickly strewn

with coins of Roman mintage may be clue to the unnoticed breaking up

and scattering by plough or spade of the many small hoards that

would naturally exist in the deserted buildings of an enclosed and once

populous town.

T h e range in time of the coins is very extensive, being from

Drusus, Senior (struck under Claudius A.D. 41-54) to Valens,

A.D. 364-378, or over three centuries. As might be expected,

considering" the long period of circulation, the coins exhibit signs of

wear previous to their deposit, and none of them are in sufficiently good

The Reigns represented. 231

condition to admit of illustration. T h e following table shows the

distribution of the coins, which are third brass, except where indicated

to the contrary :

Drusus (ist JE) ... ... ... 1

Vespasian (ist JE) ... ... ... r

Trajan (2nd JE) ... ... ... 1

Septimius Severus (ist JE)... ... 1

Gallienus ... ... ... ... 1

Postumus ... ... ... ... 3

Victorinus ... ... ... ... 1

Tetricus ... ... ... ... 4

Constantine I. ... ... ... 12

Constantine II. ... .. ... 4

Constans ... ... ... ... 6

Mao-nentius .. ... ... ... 1 o

Julianus II. ... ... ... ... 1

Valentinianus ... ... ... 2

Valens ... ... ... ... 2

Uncertain ... ... ... ... 53

Total ... 94

In the list which follows I have endeavoured to describe the

coins, so far as their condition permits :

Drusus. 38 B.C.-9 B.C.

Obverse.—NERO C L A V D I V S D R V S V S G E R M A N I C V S I M P = Bare

head of Drusus to left.

Reverse.—TI C L A V D I V S C A E S A R A V G P M T R P I M P P.P. S . C . =

Drusus seated to left holding a palm, at his feet, shields,

helmets, cuirass, spear, etc.

Vespasianus. A.D. 69-79.

Obverse.—IMP C A E S V E S P A S I A N A V G PM T R .P. PP C O S I I I . =

Laureated head of Vespasian to right.

Reverse.—SALVS A V G V S T A = Salus seated to left.

Exergue.—S. C.

2 3 2 Some Roman Brass Coins Found at Lincoln.

Trajamis. A . D . 9 8 - 1 1 7 .

Obverse.—Inscription undecipherable = Head of Trajan to right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable.

Septimius Severus. A.D. 1 9 3 - 2 I I .

Obverse.—Inscription undecipherable. Head of Septimius Severus to

right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable. A trophy between two captives.

Galliemis. A . D . 2 5 3 - 2 6 8 .

Obverse.—GALLIENVS = Head of Gallienus to right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable = A military figure standing.

Postumus. A . D . 2 5 8 - 2 6 7 . .

Obverse.—IMP. P O S T V M V S A V G = Head of Postumus to right.

Reverse.-^-lnscn-pt\on undecipherable = A military figure standing.

Victorinus. A . D . 2 6 5 - 2 6 7 .

Obverse.—IMP V I C T O R I N V S A V G = H e a d of Victorinus to right.

Reverse.—SALVS A V G = A female figure standing.

Tetrims. A . D . 2 6 7 - 2 7 2 .

Obverse.—IMP T E T R I C V S = Head of Tetricus to right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable.

Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = Head of Constantine to

right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable = T w o winged figures standing on

either side of an altar, holding a shield.

Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = Head of Constantine to

right.

Reverse.-—Inscription undecipherable = A n altar surmounted by an orb.

Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = H e a d of Constantine to

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable = T w o soldiers holding a banner

Constantinus I. A . D . 3 3 7 - 3 4 0 .

right.

inscribed

Description of the Coins.

Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = H e a d of Constantine to right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable = Two figures holding a banner

inscribed

Exergue.— P. CON. Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = H e a d of Constantine to

right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable = The wolf and twins. Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = H e a d of Constantine to

right.

Reverse.—GENIO A V G V S T I = A female figure standing. Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = Head of Constantine to

right.

Reverse.—VICTORIAE A V G V S T O R V M = Two Victories, each holding a wreath.

Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = Head of Constantine to right.

Reverse.—GLORIA E X E R C I T V S = Two soldiers holding a banner inscribed Y

Obverse.-DN C O N S T A N T I N V S P F A V G = Head of Constantine to right.

Reverse.—SEC V R I T A S = Victory holding a wreath.

Obverse.—CONSTANTINOPOLIS = Head of Constantine helmeted. Reverse.—-Inscription undecipherable = Victory holding a shield.

Constcintinus II. A . D . 3 3 7 - J 4 0 .

Obverse.—CONSTANTINVS IVN. N.C = Head of Constantine the Younger to right.

Reverse.—GLORIA E X E R C I T V S = Two soldiers standing on either side of a trophy.

Obverse.—CONSTANTINVS IVN. N.C. = Head of Constantine the Younger to right.

Reverse.—GLORIA E X E R C I T V S = Two soldiers standing, each holding a standard.

Obverse.—CONSTANTINVS IVN. N.C. = Head of Constantine the Younger to right.

Reverse.—GLORIA E X E R C I T V S = Two soldiers standing supporting a

banner inscribed. ^

Constans. A . D . 3 3 7 - 3 5 0 .

Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N S = Head of Constans to right. Reverse.—VICTORIAE = Two figures standing.

2 3 4 Some Roman Brass Coins Found at Lincoln.

Obverse.-CONSTANS P F A V G = H e a d of Constans to right. Reverse.—VICTORIAE = Two figures standing. Obverse.—DN C O N S T A N S P F A V G = Head of Constans to right. Reverse.—GLORIA E X E R C I T V S = T\vo soldiers standing, supporting a

banner inscribed ^

Obverse.—CONSTANS P F A V G = Head of Constans to right. Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable = Two figures standing. Exergue.—PLC.

Magnentius. A . D . 3 5 0 - 3 5 3 .

Obverse.—DN M A G N E N T I V S P F A V G = Head of Magnentius to right.

Reverse.—Inscription undecipherable = A / ^ f l

Julianus II. A . D . 3 6 0 - 3 6 3 .

Obverse.—DN I V L I A N V S P F A V G = Head of Julianus II. to right. Reverse.—PAX A V G V S T I = Peace standing holding a branch.

Valentinianus I. A . D . 3 6 4 - 3 7 5 .

Obverse.—DN V A L E N T I N I A N V S P F A V G = H e a d oi Valentinianus to right.

Reverse.—SECVRITAS R E I P V B L I C A E = Security standing. Obverse.—DN V A L E N T I N I A N V S = Head of Valentinianus to right. Reverse.—GLORIA R O M A N O R V M = A soldier standing. Exergue.—P. C O N .

Valens. A . D . 3 6 4 - 3 7 8 .

Obverse.—DN V A L E N S P F A V G = H e a d of Valens to right. Reverse.—SECVRITAS P V B L I C A = Security standing. Obverse.—DN V A L E N S P F A V G = H e a d of Valens to right. Reverse.—GLORIA R O M A N O R V M = A soldier holding a captive.

T h e absence of coins of H a d r i a n and the A n t o n i n e s is noteworthy,

and s o m e w h a t remarkable .

M y a c k n o w l e d g m e n t s are due to Mr. R. D . Darbishire , F . S . A . ,

for his assistance in dec ipher ing m a n y of the specimens.