Thanks so much for this video. Detailed information on this hoard is very hard to come by, but here are a few points that make this hoard especially interesting. First, the coins include coins minted by Maxentius, a usurper based in the city of Rome who definitely controlled Italy and North Africa but who may or may not have controlled southern Spain at this time; literary sources are lacking. Many of the other hoard coins are from mints and areas controlled by Maxentius--Ticinum, Aquelia, Rome and Carthage. The latest coin I can find based on available images is about 308 AD, and was minted by Maxentius. In addition, the jars that contained the coins are local, well known olive oil jars, so one can guess that the coins were shipped in bulk and then stored in these jars. My hypothesis at this point is that this hoard is a payroll hoard, shipped in from Maxentius' territory, used for paying Maxentius' officials in the area; for some reason it had to be hidden quickly. Note that the coins minted by Maxentius would not have arrived via trade, as all evidence is that due to political conflict trade between the area controlled by Maxentius and other parts of the empire was halted at this time. Hopefully there will be a full analysis of this hoard in the near future!
James, can you please tell me where you got the details of what coins are in the hoard. i have been looking for years for mint details without success.
For what it is worth, i agree with your theory that it must be an official payroll delivery. All the same denomination is not a private accumulation. The only thing I would add is that it would more likely have been stolen rather than just hidden. If Maxentius coins were in it, the game was still on and Maxentius, Constantius, Galerius, and maybe maxentius' dad would all have had agents trying to sway cities and areas across to their side.
It's always good for me as an ancient Roman coin collector to learn about the debasement and how it impacted Roman monetary history. I'd really like to see a video about ancient barborus radiate coins. Don't know much about them but I find them fascinating.
Here in Slovakia we have an intersting hoard, uncovered in 1964 in Bíňa, 108 gold solidi from the first half of the 5th century, possibly a payment to Huns, buried probably shortly after Atilla death
Brilliant video. many thanks for posting it. There is so little info on the Tomares hoard, and the Uni in Seville looking after it is not exactly forthcoming with new info on any details of the coins. It is a bit like the Dead sea scrolls in the 1960s. Do you (or anyone else) know where there is any detailed info on what coins are in the hoard. We know they are tetrarchy follis/nummi, but which Emperors, which reverse designs (are they all geniopuli?), and how many of each. I do have One other request. Your 125 Nummi = 25 argentii = 1 aureus is presumably based on a 20 d nummus, 100 d argenteus, and 2500 d aureus. I prefer a 20 nummus, 100 argenteus and a 2000 aureus, but there are any number of fiercely argued variants for the aureus, from 1000 to 2500. Could you say what you based your number on. many thanks, howard posner
This is one of your best videos. I do have a special interest in the coinage of this era. It is rich in its complex historical drama, and there are some masterpieces of coinage design that are available to the average collector. Well done.
Hey I heard you say once that the current market for ancient coins is quite hot and expensive. Could you give me an example of what a coin cost for example 2 years ago and now?
Thanks so much for this video. Detailed information on this hoard is very hard to come by, but here are a few points that make this hoard especially interesting. First, the coins include coins minted by Maxentius, a usurper based in the city of Rome who definitely controlled Italy and North Africa but who may or may not have controlled southern Spain at this time; literary sources are lacking. Many of the other hoard coins are from mints and areas controlled by Maxentius--Ticinum, Aquelia, Rome and Carthage. The latest coin I can find based on available images is about 308 AD, and was minted by Maxentius. In addition, the jars that contained the coins are local, well known olive oil jars, so one can guess that the coins were shipped in bulk and then stored in these jars. My hypothesis at this point is that this hoard is a payroll hoard, shipped in from Maxentius' territory, used for paying Maxentius' officials in the area; for some reason it had to be hidden quickly. Note that the coins minted by Maxentius would not have arrived via trade, as all evidence is that due to political conflict trade between the area controlled by Maxentius and other parts of the empire was halted at this time. Hopefully there will be a full analysis of this hoard in the near future!
Marvelous information you just added, thank you!
Very interesting theory.
James, can you please tell me where you got the details of what coins are in the hoard. i have been looking for years for mint details without success.
For what it is worth, i agree with your theory that it must be an official payroll delivery. All the same denomination is not a private accumulation. The only thing I would add is that it would more likely have been stolen rather than just hidden. If Maxentius coins were in it, the game was still on and Maxentius, Constantius, Galerius, and maybe maxentius' dad would all have had agents trying to sway cities and areas across to their side.
sorry, constantine not constantius
Always enjoyable and informative. I'm not even a collector but like headstones, coins are a tangible link to history which fascinates me. Thank you!
Excellent information and explanation of the type of coin found in this hoard!
It's always good for me as an ancient Roman coin collector to learn about the debasement and how it impacted Roman monetary history. I'd really like to see a video about ancient barborus radiate coins. Don't know much about them but I find them fascinating.
I love barbarous radiates! I have a few and it's fun to match them to the prototypes they copied.
@@markp44288 I plan on collecting some soon.
Here in Slovakia we have an intersting hoard, uncovered in 1964 in Bíňa, 108 gold solidi from the first half of the 5th century, possibly a payment to Huns, buried probably shortly after Atilla death
I'm a collectors of antique coins.... Very enjoyable videos, I'm enjoying every time I watching 👍👍👍
Brilliant video. many thanks for posting it. There is so little info on the Tomares hoard, and the Uni in Seville looking after it is not exactly forthcoming with new info on any details of the coins. It is a bit like the Dead sea scrolls in the 1960s. Do you (or anyone else) know where there is any detailed info on what coins are in the hoard. We know they are tetrarchy follis/nummi, but which Emperors, which reverse designs (are they all geniopuli?), and how many of each.
I do have One other request. Your 125 Nummi = 25 argentii = 1 aureus is presumably based on a 20 d nummus, 100 d argenteus, and 2500 d aureus. I prefer a 20 nummus, 100 argenteus and a 2000 aureus, but there are any number of fiercely argued variants for the aureus, from 1000 to 2500. Could you say what you based your number on.
many thanks,
howard posner
This is one of your best videos. I do have a special interest in the coinage of this era. It is rich in its complex historical drama, and there are some masterpieces of coinage design that are available to the average collector. Well done.
good vid!
Can't imagine the hoard owner's reaction when they realised that they lost all that money!
The hoard owner probably died not having informed anyone else of its existence. ='[.]'=
Where are you from actually?
Ain’t no way he said that
Hey I heard you say once that the current market for ancient coins is quite hot and expensive. Could you give me an example of what a coin cost for example 2 years ago and now?
The Tomares hoard coins seem to be mostly first Tetrarchy. I wonder if any will be released to the numismatic market?
As it is said in the video, it will not, unfortunately.