A farmer working a field in the Nottingham and Derbyshire area of Britain has unearthed two spectacular coins of the elusive Romano-British usurper Carausius, according to the London Times.
The two gold coins are remarkably preserved and will add to our knowledge of the famed Roman commander of legions in Britain and Gaul who declared himself emperor around 286 after the emperor in Rome called for his execution. He was murdered seven years later by his confident and treasurer Allectus in 293.
The coins were handed in to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and moved to the British Museum. The scheme is facing a freeze in funding, despite recording more than 314,000 discoveries that have revealed many new archaeological sites. The farmer’s identity is not being revealed because archaeologists are to explore the site, according to the report.
Here are some additional links to article on the Carausius coins:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010372719
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/17/ncoin117.xml
http://social.moldova.org/stiri/eng/104494/
Posted by: John Ambrose | March 29, 2008 at 10:32 PM