Find Spot record 6490/0/1 - Top Lodge Coin Hoard

In January 1994 a metal detectorist recovered 16 Romano-British coins scattered over part of a field near Top Lodge, Fineshade. Examination of the coins suggested they were part of a dispersed hoard. Subsequently a small excavation was undertaken and c200 coins were recovered and subsequently cleaned and recorded by Northampton Museum. The hoard comprised 89 denarii and 173 radiates; ranging in date from Septimus Severus to Postumus, AD 193 to AD 260/1.

{1} A hoard of c.200+ possible C3rd Roman coins were initially revealed 28/02/1994 by metal detectorist D.Hare. The hoard was subsequently excavated by G.Cadman, G.Johnston and M.Porter, and the finds passed to Northampton Museum for identification. The hoard was deposited in the subsoil, and underlying the main group of coins was a lens of silt which appeared to contain small fragments of possible leather. Initial conclusions suggests a hoard deliberately buried within a leather bag or pouch.

{2} A soft black substance adhereing to a number of the coins was established to be decayed leather. Adhereing to the leather were strands of matted grass or similar vegetable matter. This suggests that the coins were placed in a leather bag (or bags), and then deposited on a bed or nest of grass within the hole where they were concealed. Preservation of the organic materials is most likely a result of toxic copper salts corroding from the base silver coinage and preventing micro-organism activity.

{3} Attached note also included details of four coins from coin hoard.

{4} In January 1994 a metal detectorist recovered 16 Romano-British coins scattered over part of a field near Top Lodge, Fineshade. Examination of the coins suggested they were part of a dispersed hoard. On 28th February the detectorist discovered the hoard which was reported by M.Porter. An immediate salvage exercise was mounted by G.Cadman including local fieldworkers.c.200 coins were recovered and subsequently cleaned and recorded by Northampton Museum. Further dispersed coins were later retrieved by the detectorist, the total amounting to 257 coins, concealed sometime after 261 AD. The collection was returned to the finder. Details of excavation and discussion. Detailed coin list in Appendix 1.

{5} The coin hoard was probably sold at Sotherbys in October 1995, unknown purchaser.

<1> CADMAN G.E., 1994, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN53689.

<2> Friendship-Taylor D., 1995, Organic Material Associated with Fineshade Coin Hoard, (unchecked) (Report). SNN57544.

<3> Cadman G., 1995, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN106068.

<4> Cadman G., 1994, Revised Archive Report on Top Lodge, Fineshade Coin Hoard, (checked) (Report). SNN106069.

<5> Cadman G., 1995, SMR Report Form, (checked) (SMR Report Form). SNN106070.

<6> Curteis M.; Cadman G., 1996, A Roman Coin Hoard from Fineshade, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Article). SNN72828.

<7> Curteis M, Undated, Fineshade, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112872.

<8> Edited by Roger Bland and John Orna-Ornstein, 1997, Coin hoards from Roman Britain, p. 180-90 (Book). SNN116143.

Record last edited

Feb 27 2024 3:58PM