Republican silver denarius
Roman, 78BC-AD37
Found by metal detectorist in Sarum Road, Winchester, Hampshire
One of eight coins found together in the 'Sarum Road Hoard'. Hoards of Roman coins are quite common in Britain though this hoard is interesting as it consists of types in circulation before the conquest of Britain in AD43. The date of deposition of the hoard cannot be earlier than the date of the latest coin in the hoard which in this case is a denarius of the emperor Tiberius (AD16-37). This suggests that the hoard was buried sometime in the first half of the 1st century AD perhaps for safekeeping and was not recovered as the owner had died. Alternatively, it could have been left as a religious offering. It is difficult to translate the value of these coins into modern money. An approximate idea can be gained from various comparisons: a Roman legionary was paid 225 denarii a year (from which more than half might be deducted for food, clothing, boot laces etc); a litre of wine could be bought for one or two asses as could a loaf of bread. Since there were 16 asses to a denarius the eight coins in the hoard could have bought a lot of bread and wine.
