Coin, Roman, bronze, found at Gordon Avenue, Winchester, Hampshire, issued by Aurelian, 270 to 275.

'Tetradrachm' from Alexandria issued by the emperor Aurelian

Roman, AD270-275

Found in a garden in Gordon Avenue, Winchester, Hampshire

The Romans took over the Ptolemaic mint in Alexandria, Egypt, and struck silver and bronze coins. The silver became very debased. This is a typical tetradrachm (four drachma piece) of the later 3rd century AD. Such coins are extremely common. They were brought to Britain in recent years by soldiers returning home and are often dug up in gardens. They did not circulate at all in Roman Britain.