ROMAN COIN HOARD

This group consists of 4653 coins made in the fourth century AD from AD 330-350. Each coin, generally known today as a nummus, is predominantly copper-alloy with a tiny admixture of silver. The legends on the reverse of the last nummi present, those of AD 348-50, invariably read FEL(ix) TEMP(orum) REPARATIO which can be translated as 'happy times are here again' ('Fel Temp' on summary). It was an optimistic hope prompted by the year 348 coinciding with the 1,100th anniversary of the traditional founding of Rome and the belief that it marked the beginning of a new age for the embattled empire.The group terminates during the joint reign of Constantius II (AD 337-61) and his younger brother Constans (AD 337-50). Both had been brought up as Christians by their father Constantine the Great (AD 306-37) the first emperor to adopt the faith. Constans was the last legitimate emperor to visit Britain. There are also coins present dating to before the joint reign of Constantius II and Constans; including issues of Constantine the Great himself, his mother St Helena and step-mother Theodora as well as another, shorter-lived, son Constantine II (d. AD 350) and a nephew Delmatius (d. AD 337). Th