Two Roman Hoards of Coins from Egypt

Abstract

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Trade, Traders and the Ancient City

“…Investigations at Bakchias produced two hoards amounting to 4,483 coins, both of which were probably second-century accumulations (Grenfell et al 1900, 65). Three further second-century hoards were unearthed at Tebtunis, while the casual finds from the site amount to a mere seventy-six Roman and Byzantine coins, mainly dating to the first two centuries AD (Milne 1935). The casual finds from Euhemeria, Philoteras, Theadelphia (Grenfell et al 1900, 65-71), Tebtunis and Soknopaiou Nesos (Boak 1935) show a rather different pattern from the hoards in that the hoards have a preponderance of Neronian types which suggests that they were collections of the better pieces available.…”

“…The archaeological data from cities are less good than those from villages and this has affected the surviving numismatic evidence. Over 1,500 coins were uncovered at Oxyrhynchus, seemingly from stray finds (Milne 1922). The coins date from the Ptolemaic period to the seventh century and show no obviously unusual patterns.…”

“…26 This pattern can be compared with that of hoards from other parts of Egypt of fourthcentury date. These coins are mostly from Fayumic finds (one from Hawara (Milne 1920)) though their provenance cannot normally be more closely established. These four hoards show a range of 41.4-54.7 per cent of coins from Alexandria and 8.8 per cent (all Rome), 7.3 per cent (various mints), 2.8 per cent and 8.62 per cent (7.4 per cent from Rome) from the West (Lallemand 1966;Milne 1920).…”

“…These coins are mostly from Fayumic finds (one from Hawara (Milne 1920)) though their provenance cannot normally be more closely established. These four hoards show a range of 41.4-54.7 per cent of coins from Alexandria and 8.8 per cent (all Rome), 7.3 per cent (various mints), 2.8 per cent and 8.62 per cent (7.4 per cent from Rome) from the West (Lallemand 1966;Milne 1920). The general pattern, therefore, differs slightly from the Oxyrhynchite evidence, with the coins from Oxyrhynchus having more cosmopolitan origins.…”