Böcker av Eleanor Ghey

This volume was prompted by the recent discovery in Britain of two large coin hoards dating from the first decade of the fourth century AD - Wold Newton and Rauceby. Coins of this early Tetrarchic period are relatively uncommon finds in Britain and elsewhere, due mainly to the brevity of their periods of issue followed by successive reductions in the weight of the coinage. The book also republishes the 1944 Fyfield hoard within the context of these more recent finds and contains preliminary reports on two very large hoards of coins of the same period that have been found in recent years in France (Juillac) and Spain (Tomares).The Tetrarchic system of rule (AD 293-c. 313) was initiated by the Roman Emperor Diocletian to stabilize the Roman Empire, with the rule of the western and eastern Empire being split between two senior emperors and their two junior colleagues. The transition from the third to fourth century AD is a pivotal phase in the history of Roman Britain, with Britain coming once again under the control of the Empire following periods of turbulence and usurper rule between AD 260-296. Under the Tetrarchy, Britain was subjected to the extensive monetary reforms undertaken by Diocletian which saw the introduction of the denomination now referred to as the nummus. The period is of particular interest to numismatists as during this time Roman coinage was minted in Britain at the mint of London. The volume therefore covers not just the hoards themselves, but also considers the wider significance of these hoards for Britain and the early fourth century monetary economy, particularly in the western empire.

This book will investigate the most interesting and bountiful hoard discoveries as well as studying the practise of hoarding itself. Exploring the great variety of hoards all the way from Bronze-Age weapon deposits, Greek and Roman coin hoards, impressive Viking wealth, to gold sovereigns hidden in the twentieth century, this book will consider who was responsible for the hoarding, and why they might have been compelled to do so. These motivations may shed light on times of economic upheaval or reveal more complex social and ritual customs.

In 2007 during an archaeological excavation in advance of a hotel development situated 150 metres from the Roman Baths in Bath, a Roman silver coin hoard was unearthed. This book tells the story of this remarkable find, focusing on the discovery, scientific investigation, interpretation of the hoard, and the parallels and context in Roman world.