The Hengrove Hoard of Mid-Fourth Century Roman Bronze Coins

Discovered during archaeological investigations in the southern suburbs of Bristol, the Hengrove hoard is an unusual cache of coins from the mid-fourth century. It contains 309 bronze and silvered bronze small change denominations, most of which were produced in a short seven to ten year period after 348. These include a significant number of coins struck by the usurpers Magnentius and Decentius, who ruled the western provinces of the Roman Empire between 350 and 353. One quarter of the coins are imitations of official coins, a practice that was especially common in Britain in the 350s and early 360s. The Hengrove coins are often unworn or only slightly worn, suggesting that some had not been in circulation for very long before they were deposited in the ground.