TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

By J. G. MILNE, M.A.

The two hoards of fourth-century Roman bronze coins here

described were obtained in Egypt by Professor Petrie: and, as they
cover a period on which not much work has been done, a detailed
account of their contents may be of value.
The classification adopted is by means of reverse types and mints.
It does not seem necessary to refer at length to the obverse types,
which exhibit little variation in most reigns concerned: any points
of interest are mentioned in the notes prefixed to each list. The
types are arranged in what appears to be their chronological order:
the earlier issues, mainly of Constantinus I and his sons, which are
represented only by stray specimens, are grouped together.
HOARD A.
NOTE:-The obverse types of Julianus Caesar and Constantius
Gallus used at different mints vary, not only in minor details of
treatment of the bust, but in the division and titles of the legend.
The legends of Julianus are:-
Alexandria .... .... DNIVLIANVS NOBCAES.
Antioch .... DNIVLIANV SNOBCAES.
Constantinopleand Thessalonica . DNCLIVLIANVSNOBCAES.
Cyzicus ...... .. DNFLCLIVLI ANVSNOBCS.
Nicomedia .... .. DNIVLIANVS NOBCAESAR.
Rome and Siscia . . .. DNCLIVL IANVSNC.

Those of Constantius Gallus are:-

Alexandria and Antioch .... DNCONSTANTI VSNOBCAES.
Constantinopleand Nicomedia .DNFLCLCONSTANTIVSNOBCAES.
Cyzicus . .. .. .. DNCONSTAN TIVSNOBCS.

The bust of Julianus at Rome and Siscia has a cuirass only:

elsewhere, a paludamentum and cuirass.
In the reverse type FELTEMPREPARATIO, the legend is at most mints
divided -TEMP REPA-, but at Constantinople and Nicomedia the
divisions -TEMPRE PA- and -TEMPR EPA- are equally common:
the latter also occurs rarely at Cyzicus.

I. MISCELLANEOUS EARLIER ISSUES.

A.D. 333-5-
Constantius (Caesar) .. GLORIAEXERCITVS (two standards) .. PSIS .. ..
A.D. 335-7-
Constantinus I .... GLORIAEXERCITVS (one standard) .. SMANA .. z
A.D. 337-40.
Divus Constantinus .. Emperor in quadriga ........ SMNE ..
Veiled figure: VN MR ...... SMALr ..
,, ,, , .. .. . SMANB .. I
Urbs Roma ... .Wolf and twins .... . SMALF ..
,, .. .. .. . SMKE ..
170 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

A.D. 340-5.
Constantius .. .. VOT XX MVLT XXX . .. SMA[ I
Constans . .. SMKE I
)) ) ) )) . . I
VICTORIAEDDAVGGQNN .. RP (palm) I
I

Constantius or CcOnstans . , .. . 2
A.D 345-7-
Constantius .. FELTEMPREPARATIO. Phoenix . ALEA (star r.). I

16

II. FELTEMPREPARATIO. Soldier striking down foe.

(a) Without letter in field.
Alexandria.
Constantius ..ALEA (2)-B (I)-r (7)-? (6).. .. I6
Const. Gallus.. ..ALE ? () .. .. . .. I - 17
Antioch.
Constantius ..ANA (2)-A(2)-B (2)-H (i)-I (i)-AI (i)
BI (3)-rI
()- I ()- ? (4) .. .. 18
Const. Gallus.. . ANA (I)-AI (I) .
Julianus Caes. . ANAI (4)-BI (3)- ? (3) O - 30
Constantinople.
Constantius ..CONSO (2)-IA (2)- ? (I) .. -5 - 5
Cyzicus.
Constantius ..SMKB (I)- () .... .
Const. Gallus.. . SMKA (I) .. I- 3
Nicomedia.
Constantius . SMNA (I)-A (i)-S (I)-S (3)- ? (2) .. 8
Const. Gallus.. ..SMNB (i)-A (i)-S (i)
Heraclea.
Constantius ..SMHA (i)-r (i) 2 - 2
Thessalonica.
Constantius .SMTS (in field) A () .. . . I - I
Siscia.
Julianus Caes. ..? SIS () .. .. I - I
Sirmium.
Constantius ..BSIRM (i).. . I - I
Rome.
Constantius .R (wreath) T (I) (2) R-M-Z (I) R ? (I) *- 5
Const. Gallus.. ..R (palm) (i)
Julianus Caes. .. R'MS (i) .I . - 7
Mints illegible.
Constantius 1. 2
Julianus Caes. .. I - I3

9'

(b) With letter in field.

Alexandria.
Constantius (M) ALEA (4)-B (6)-r (4)-A (4)- ? (6) 24
Julianus Caes... .. ,, ALEA (8)- ? (5) 13 - 37
Antioch.
Constantius . (M) ANA (I)--r (3)-A (i)-S (3)-H (2)-
AI (2)-BI (4)- ? (3) .. .. .. '9 - I
Constantinople.
Constantius ..() CONSA (i) I
(X) CONSB (i)- ? (I)
(M) CONSO (I)-IA (I)- ? (3).. 5
( ? ) CONSP () I
Const. Gallus.. . (S) CONS ? (I) I
Julianus Caes. .. (M) CONSB (I)-e (I)-IA (I)- ? (3) 6 - 6
Cyzicus.
Constantius (M) SMKA (3)-B (I)-r (4)-- (3)- ? (i)
(I)-S 13
Julianus Caes... .. ,, SMKA (2).. 2 - 1
TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. 171
Nicomedia.
Constantius .. (M) SMNP (i)- (i)- - ? (i) .. . 3
Julianus Caes. .. ,, SMN, (i)- ? (2) .. . 3. -
6
Heraclea.
Constantius .. (M) SMHB (i)-S (I) .. 2 2
Thessalonica.
Constantius ..(M) SMTSA (i)-B (i) .. .. 2
Julianus Caes. .. ,, SMTSS (I) . II - 3
Siscia.
Constantius .. (M) ? SIS () .. ... . I - I
Mints illegible.
Constantius (M) (35)(S)(S ) (A) (I) . 38 - 38

'37

(a) or (b).
Mints illegible.
Constantius .. i6 - I6

III. SPESREIPVBLICE.

(a) Without letter in field.

Alexandria.
Constantius .ALEA (4)-B (io)-r (ii)-A (7)- ? (I3) . 45
Julianus Caes. .ALEB (i)-r (2)-A (12)- ? (20) ... 35
Julianus Aug.. .ALEA (i)-B (2)-r (i)- ? (9) ...... 13 - 93
Antioch.
Constantius .ANB (2)-r (i)-A (3)- ? (3) .. .. .. 9
Julianus Caes. .ANB .......... .. .. I - Io
()
Constantinople.
Constantius .CONS ? (I) ......... .. I
Julianus Caes. .CONSB (I)- ? (I) ......... 2 3
Cyzicus.
Constantius .SMKB (2)-- (I)-S (3)- ? (4) .. .. .. o - To
Nicomedia.
Constantius .SMNB I - II
() ..........
Heraclea.
Constantius .SMHA (i)-B (3) .......... 4 4
Rome.
Constantius .R (star) P (2)-S (i)--? (I)- ? (3) R (wreath) Q (I)
- ? .... .... I
(I)- (2)
Julianus Caes. R (star) P (2)- ? (I) R (wreath) S (I)- ? (2) 6 -17
Mints illegible.
Constantius .40 - 40

I78

(b) With letter or symbol in field.

Constantinople.
Constantius (C) CONS ? (i) .. ....... I
Julianus Caes. , CONSA (I)-I (i) ........ 2 -3
Cyzicus.
Constantius (r) SMKB (i)-A (i)- ?) ... 3
Julianus Caes. .. SMKF (I) ....... .. I 4
Thessalonica.
Constantius (Star) SMTSr (r)- ? () .. .. .. ..2
Julianus Caes. ,, SMTS. () .... .... I - 3
I0

There were also 202 entirely illegible, making a total of 650 coins
in the hoard.
The date of the hoard can be fixed as the beginning of the reign
of Julianus. Only his earliest issue, of the Spes Reipublicae type, is
I72 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

represented in it, and the coins of this type are only of the mint of
Alexandria. It was presumably secreted before there had been
time for any specimens struck at mints outside Egypt to drift into
the country.
The evidence furnished as to the drift of coins into Egypt by this
hoard is in general accordance with the conclusions stated in the
account of a hoard of Constantinian coins from Egypt in Journ.
Intern. d'Arch. Numism. (I914, pp. I-27). The figures for the
different mints may be summarised according to the groups:
I. II. III. III.
(Julian. Aug.)
Alexandria ? 3 54 80 13
Antioch .. .. 3 49 10 -
Constantinople .. - 21 6
Cyzicus . ... 2 8 14 -
Nicomedia .. .. I 17 I -
Heraclea ... - 4 4
Thessalonica .. - 4 3
Siscia .. .. I 2 - -
Sirmium .. .. - I- -
Rome .. .. I 7 17
II I77 135 13
These figures suggest that the drift of coins was a fairly slow
process, but that there was a current setting towards Egypt which in
the course of five years or so brought appreciable numbers of coins
from the main centres of trade to Alexandria and the upper country.
A very noticeable characteristic which appears on a survey of
these coins is the extreme carelessness of striking which prevailed
at the Alexandrian mint. In the great majority of instances in
group III, the centring is bad, and frequently only a small portion of
the type is on the flan: several other coins, which may be suspected
to be of this mint, show no more than a corner of the legend: the
fresh condition of the lettering proves that these had not been long
in circulation. Two or three pieces are absolutely blank.
In this connexion it is perhaps not without interest to note that,
shortly after the accession of Julianus, the Alexandrian mob slew
certain functionaries against whom it bore a grudge, amongst them
Dracontius the treasurer (Amm. Marc. xxii, I ). If Dracontius was
responsible for the work of the imperial mint, the anger of the mob
had some justification.
HOARD B.
NOTE :-The sequence of issues in the period 350-400 does not
appear to have been worked out, and further evidence may lead to
the modification of the order adopted here, especially as regards
TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. I73
those types which were peculiar to Western mints, which are scantily
represented.
The usual practice of the mints was to strike with the same
reverse types for all the Augusti, and consequently the Votis types
become somewhat confusing. For instance, the coins of
Valentinianus II, Theodosius, and Arcadius with VOTx MVLT XX are
clearly contemporary; but it is by no means clear to which emperor
the decennalia commemorated belong. As the series seems to be
parallel in some respects to the issues for Flaccilla, it may perhaps
be taken to be for the decennalia of Valentinianus.
There is little variation in the obverse types or legends in the
reign of Valentinianus I and his successors. A break in the legend is
usual in the Eastern issues, and is almost always at the same point:
an exception occurs in the case of Valens, whose Alexandrian issues
have DNVALEN SPFAVG, instead of the DNVALENS PFAVG of neighbouring
mints.
Other points of variation which cannot conveniently be included
in the catalogue follow, arranged according to the numbers assigned
to the series in the list:
I. The Lugdunum coin of Constantius II of the the bust on the obverse. They are not
Victories type has an uncertain monogram distinguishable in style from the others, and
in the field: the Arelate coin has M. are of all three emperors: they have been
V. The Nicomedia coins of Valens have on the catalogued separately.
reverse in the field r. Q. XVIII. On the reverse of this type there is
VII. One of the Nicomedia coins of Valens has usually - in the field to 1. But on nearly all
on reverse B in the field 1. : the Con- the examples from shop A of Alexandria the
stantinople coin has a star in the same symbol becomes simply a pellet: on one
position. (of Arcadius) there is nothling in the field.
X. The Antioch coin of Theodosius has on At Nicomedia there is more variety: the
reverse VOT X MVLT XXX: it is probably symbols are -,+, , or , and occasionally
meant for this type rather than XII. ntg .
XIII. Coins from the mint of Thessalonica seem Onoins of Heraclea there is no symbol.
to read VICTORIA AVG-: the others have Two specimens of Valentinianus from
AVGGG. ^ Antioch show misspellings : one has
On Rome coins there are usually two dots A ntioh show misspellings: one has
between the Victories on the reverse : in one se,
on the obver theother
instance (RS of Theodosius) only one dot is ATNA inexergue of the reverse.
visible. XXII. The reverse legend is regularly
This seems to be a purely Western type. CONCORDIA AVG at Alexandria,
XIV. The mint numeral on this type (which is CONCORDIA AVGGG elsewhere. There
only represented by Thessalonica issues) is are two exceptions-an Alexandria coin of
usually in the field to 1.: but two specimens Theodosius has AVGGG, and a Constan-
of Theodosius do not show any numeral. tinople coin of Arcadius AVG.
XVI. Several of the coins of this issue, from the XXI and XXIII. There is a star behind the head
mint of Alexandria, have a small T behind of Honorius on the obverse.

PRE-CO NSTANTIN IAN.

(Radiate head r.
Antiochus IV .. .. BAMIAEOZ ANTIOXOT. Female figure standing to front
holding sceptre..
[TIBEPIOT] KAICAP[OC]. Lituus.
udaea:
fiberus tTiberius
[L]IZ in wreath.
Sidso.n Turreted head of Tyche r.
o.Galley.
? ' Head r. (? Antoninus Pius).
Poppy between four ears of corn.
.. Altar.
CONSECRATIO.
Licinius (?) .. .. lovi Conservatori type.
.. ..

i74 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

I. MISCELLANEOUS EARLY ISSUES.

c. 33o.
Constantinus II (Caesar) .. Legend only ........ SMANT (?) r
335-7-
Helena .. PAX PVBLICA .. .. .. CONSE . I
, .. .. .. CONS ?.. r
337-40.
Divus Constantinus
s .... Emperor in quadriga ...... SMALF r
, , .. .. ..SMNS I
I
Veiled figure: VN MR .. .. SMALB I
,, ,, SMAL ? 2
2
Constantinus II . GLORIA EXERCITVS(one standard) SMANH I
Constans I .. .. .. ,, ,, SMALB I
I
Constantius II .~. .., ~, ,, SMNS I
, ~, >,, CONSS I
~.. ..,, ,, SMK ? .. I
, . . .
. I
340-5.
Constans I .. .. VOT XV MVLT XX .SMANO .. I
. .. ? .. I
. k X ...........................................
Constans I .. VOT XX MVLT XXX .SMAL ?.. I:
.SMK .. T
.SMNB I
.. * .. 4
Constantius II .SMALA i
.SMAL .. I
.[ AV .. . SMANS .. I
.SMANA .
.SMANI .. I
.SMN ? .. I
.CONSI .. I
r
? . ..VICTORIAEDDAVGGQN?
.. .. ? .. r
Constans I .. .. R P .. r
..R ?
I
Constantius II .) .ROP I
..R ? 2
.PLG I
. ? ARI .. T
..R ? 8
.. ? ..

II. FELTEMPREPARATIO. Soldier striking down foe.

Alexandria.
Constantius .. .. (M) ALEB (2)-P (2)- ? (1) .. .. 5
Julianus Caes. . ... ,, ALEA (2)- ? (3) .. ..... . 5
? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 - i9
Antioch.
Constantius ... (M) ANA (i)- ? () . .. .. .. 2
? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. g9 - II
Cyzicus.
Constantius .. (M) SMKA (i)- ? (i) ..... z
? .. .............2.. 2 -
4
Nicomedia.
Constantius .. .. (nil) SMNQ* () ..........
,, .. .. (M) SMNB (I) ........ . I
,, .. . (A) SMN ? () .. .. ...... .
? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. - 4
Constantinople.
Julianus Caes .. .. (M) CONSIA (I)- ? () .. .. .. 2 - 2
Rome.
? .. . . . . - I
TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. I75
Mints illegible.
Constantius .. .. (M) (x2): (nil) (3): (?) (8) .. .. .. ..23
Julianus Caes. .. ..(M) (5) ........... 5 - 28
Emperors and mints illegible ... ..... .... 43 - 43

112

III. SPESREIPVBLICE.
Alexandria.
Constantius ..ALEA (i)-B (z)-Pr (i)-A (i) .. . 5
Julianus Caes. ALEA ()- ? () .. ? 3
Julianus Aug. ALEB (I)
.. 7 - i6
Antioch.
Constantius ..ANA (i)-B (2)-F (i)-e (i)- ? (i).. 6
4 - 10
Cyzicus.
Constantius ..SMKA (z)-S- (i)- ? (4).. 7
Julianus Caes. SMK ? (i) ..
Julianus Aug. SMKS (I) .. I - 9
Nicomedia. 9
Constantius SMNA ()- ? () ..
.. 2- 4
Constantinople.
I - I
Rome.
Constantius .. R * P (i)-- ? (z)-- ? (i)- ? (z) 6
? . 4 - 10
Mints illegible.
Constantius .. 32
Julianus Caes. . I. I - 43
Emperors and mints illegible .. 52 - 52

145

IV. RESTITVTORREIP.
Antioch.
Valentinianus I .. ANTA (i)-B (i) 2 - 2
Constantinople.
Valentinianus I .. CONSPB () .. I - I
Mint illegible.
Valentinianus I.

V. GLORIAROMANORVM. Emperor dragging captive.

4Alexandria.
Valens ......ALEA (i)-r (i)- ? (i) ... 3
? .................. ....3- 6
Antioch.
Valentinianus I ... ANTB (i)- . (2)-A (i) .. .. .. .. 4
Valens ...... ANTI' (i)-A (4)- ? (3) .. .. .. .. 8
? .................. .... 4 - 6
Nicomedia.
Valens ....SMN ()- ? () .. 2
? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22-4 - 4
Mints illegible.
Valentinianus I ...... ....8.. 8
Valens ..5 .............. ....
Emperors and mints illegible .33 - 33

72
I76 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

VI. VOT V MVLT X.

Antioch.
Valentinianus I .. .. ANT ? (i) ..
Constantinople.
? .. .. I - I
Mint illegible.
Valentinianus I .. .I - I

VII. SECVRITASREIPVBLICAE.
Alexandria.
Valentinianus I ..ALEB (I)-r (4)-A (3) .. 8
Valens . ALEA (2)-B (3)--F (5)-A (6)- ?( -II) .. 27
Gratianus .. ALEA (i)- ? (i) .. 2
? .... 36 - 73
Antioch.
Valens .. ANT ? (3) . .... . 3
? .. ..
Cyzicus.
Valens . .. SMK ? () ..
? .... . .I - z
Niconedia.
Valens ..SMNF (2)
.-.
2-4 - 4
Constantinople.
C! I>
Valens . . N.
f-Ir'.T
J i)Nb -_\
I
? .. ..
Thessalonica.
Valentinianus I .. .. TESB (I) I- I
Rome.
Valens .. RQVARTA (I) .... I - 2
.. .. *
..4
Tr?
es.
Treves.
Valens .. .. .. TRP (I)..
Gratianus . . TRS () ..
Mints illegible.
Valentinianus I . 5
Valens 30
Gratianus 5 - 50
Emperors and mints illegible I17 - 117

273

VIII. CONCORDIAAVGGG.
Cyzicus.
Gratianus . .. SMKA (i) I - I

Emperor and mint illegible .. - I

IX. VOT V.
Mint illegible.
Gratianus . I -- I
Emperor and mint illegible ..I .. - 2

X. VOT X MVLT XX.

Antioch.
Gratianus .. .. ANTA (t)- ? () .. 273
Theodosius I .. .. ANTA (I) 3

Cyzicus.
Gratianus .. .. SMKB (I) . I- I

4
TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. 177
XI. VOT XV MVLT XX.
Alexandria.
Valentinianus II.. .. ALEB () .. I - I
Antioch.
I - I
Cyzicus.

Rome.
Gratianus SMRB (2) 2
Valentinianus II.. SMRQ (i) I I
Theodosius I .. SMRP (z) ..2-5
Treves.
Valentinianus II.. TRS (i)
Mints illegible.
Valentinianus II.. 2
Theodosius I 2-4
4
13

XII. VOT XX MVLT XXX.

Antioch.
Valentinianus II.. ANTA (4)- ? z .. 6
4- io
Cyzicus.
Gratianus .. SMKA (i)-rF (i)- ? (i).. 3 io 3
Nicomedia.
Gratianus SMNB (I)
I -- 2
Constantinople.
Theodosius I .. CONA (i)

Emperor and mint illegible ...... I --

8I
I
2

I8

XIII. VICTORIAAVGGG. Two Victories facing.

Thessalonica.
Valentinianus II .. TES ? () .. I
Theodosius I .. .. TESA (i) I - 2
Aquileia.
Valentinianus II.. .. SMAQP (i) I - I
Rome.
Valentinianus II .. .. RP (i)-Q (i) .. . .2
Theodosius I .. .. RP )-S ()-T ()- (). . 4
.,2- 8
Mints illegible
Valentinianus II.. 3
Theodosius I . 5
Arcadius .. II- 9
Emperors and mints illegible 7 - 7

27

XIV. GLORIAREIPVBLICE. Gateway.

Thessalonica.
Valentinianus II A.. A

Theodosius I .. .. B A
TES (z) (i) .. .. .. 4
Arcadius .. B Ir
TES()() ..........2
? 1 - 12
Mints illegible.
Theodosius I ....2 2

14
178 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

XV. VOT V.
Antioch.
Arcadius .. ..ANTA (2) . 2 - 2
Cyzicus.
Arcadius .. .. SMKB (i)-r (I) .. .... . -
(i)-A 3
Nicomedia.
Valentinianus II.. ..SMNF (I) .. - I

Constantinople.
Arcadius .. ..CON ? (I) ....
? .... .. - 2
Heraclea.
Arcadius .. ..SMHB (2) .. .. 2- 2
Mints illegible.
Theodosius I ...... I

Arcadius .. .. . . 6 - 7

I7

XVI. VOT X MVLT XX.

Alexandria.
Valentinianus II .. ALEA (i)-B (16)- ? (6).. .. 23
Theodosius I.... . ALEA (4)-B (2)-1' (z6)-A (4)- ? (Ii) .- 47
Arcadius ..... ALEA (22)- ? (9) .. *. 3I
.. I5
Valentinianus II (T) .. ALEB (8)- ? (5) . .... 13
I3
Theodosius I ,, .. ALEA (4)-r (5)- ? (5) .. .. 14
Arcadius ,, .. ALEA (6)- ? (I) .. * 7
.. I - 151
Antioch.
Valentinianus II .. . ANA (8)-F (3)- ? (3) .. 14
Theodosius I .. .. ANA (2)-- (7)-A(7)-- (i)- ? (I) . .. iS
i8
Arcadius . ... . ANF (i)-A (2)-S (6)- ? (2) .. . II
Theodosius I .. ANTA (6)- ? () . . .. 7
Arcadius .... .. ANTA (5)
.. - 63
Cyzicus.
Valentinianus II .. SMKB (3)-F (I)- ? (3) .. 7
Theodosius I .. .. SMKA (i)-B (2)-F (5)- ? (i) 9 - I6
Nicomedia.
Valentinianus II.. .. SMNA (2) 2
Theodosius I .. .. SMNB (z)-r (i)-A (i)- ? (i)..
.. I - 8
Constantinople.
Valentinianus II. .. CONA (z) 2 - 2
Mints illegible.
Valentinianus II.. 23
Theodosius I .. 25
Arcadius .. .. 8 - 56
Emperors and mints illegible .. 9 - 19

315

xvIa. SALVSREIPVBLICAE. Victory seated.

Antioch.
Flaccilla ..... ANS (3) ...... . 3 - 3
Nicomedia.
Flaccilla ..... SMNA () ........... - 2
Constantinople
Flaccilla...... CONe (2) .... . . .. .. 2 - 2
Mints illegible.
Flaccilla .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3- 3

IO
TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. I79

XVII. VICTORIAAVGGG. Victory 1.

Aquileia.
Theodosius I .. AQT () .. .. I - I
Aries.
Valentinianus II.. . PCON (i)
Theodosius I .... SCON (r) T-(I)
Arcadius . .PCON () T-(z) ? -(i) .. 4- 7
Lyons.
Valentinianus II.. .. LVG ? () ..
Arcadius ...... LVGP (I)
Mints illegible
Valentinianus II..
Honorius .I - 2
Emperors and mints illegible . 9- 9

21

XVIII. SALVSREIPVBLICAE.
Alexandria.
Valentinianus II.. .. ALEB (7)-A (7)- ? (2) . ... .. i6
Theodosius I.. .. ALEA (I3)--B (3)-- (2)-A (9)- ? (2) .. 29
Arcadius ..... ALEF (7)-A (2z)- ? (7) ...... 35
Honorius ALEA
.... (2)- ? () .. . . 3
?.. ?.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 - io8
Antioch.
Valentinianus II. . . ANTA (32)- ? (3) . . . . .. 35
Theodosius I .... ANTA (io)-B (i3)-A ()- ? (14) .. ..48
Arcadius . .. .. ANTA (3)--' (29)- ? (4) . . .. 36
Honorius .... ANTA (3)- ? (i) .. .... .... 4
? .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 -I I74
Cyzicus.
Valentinianus II... . SMKA (9)-B (5)- ?( (5 ).... ..
TheodosiusI .. .. SMKA (25)-B (I5)-A (9)- ? (9) .. .. 58
Arcadius . ... . SMKA (7)-F (i6)-A (2)- ? (7) .... 32
Honorius...... SMKA ()-- ? (2) ..3. . 3
? .. ?.. ?.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 2 --110
Nicomedia.
Valentinianus II .... SMNA (3)-B (12)- ? (I) 6. 16
Theodosius I .... SMNA (i 8)--B (3)- ? (2) .. .. ..23
Arcadius . ... . SMNA (6)-r (9)- ? (4) .. 9
Honorius .... . SMNA (2)- ? (z) .. .. . 4
? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 - 68
Constantinople.
Valentinianus II .. CONSA (2)-B (9)- ? (6) . . .. .. 17
Theodosius I CONSA (i6)--B (z)- ? (4) .22
Arcadius .. CONSA (io)-B (9)-- (io)-A (6)- ? (I5) 50
Honorius.. CONSA (I) .
............2.. 2 -
92
Heraclea.
Theodosius I SMHB (z)- ? (z2) ........ 4
Arcadius .. ..SMHA (9)-B (4) ..... .....13
Honorius SMHA (I) ...... ...... I --
Thessalonica.
Valentinianus II .. ..TESB (x) .. .. .. .. ..
Theodosius I TESB (z)-A () .. .. .. .. . 3 - 4
Aquileia.
Valentinianus II.. AQP (4)-S (i)...... ...... 5
Theodosius I ..AQP (r).. .. .. .. .. .. .. I
Arcadius .. .. AQ ? (i) .. .. .. .... .. I
Honorius AQS (i) ............ -8
Rome.
Valentinianus II .. RP () . .. .. ...... .. .
Arcadius .. R..2P () ..... .........
? o. o
I80 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

Mints illegible.
Valentinianus II. 51
Theodosius I . . .77
Arcadius .................... 72
Honorius . .2 - 202
Emperors and mints illegible .................. 140 - 140

927

xix. GLORIAROMANORVM. Emperor riding r.

Alexandria.
Theodosius I ... ALEF . (i)- ? (z) ...... 3
Arcadius ALEF .. . .. . - 4
...... (I)
Mint illegible.
Theodosius I . . ....- .. I

XX. VRBSROMAFELIX. Emperor holding Victory.

Rome.
Honorius ...... OF P S T .... 13 - 13
SMROM (6) (2) (2) (3)
Mint illegible.
Theodosius I .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I

14

xxI. GLORIAROMANORVM. Three emperors.

Mint illegible.
Honorius .. I - I

XXII. CONCORDIAAVG(GG). Cross.

Alexandria.
Theodosius I ALEA (16)- ? (4) .. 20
Arcadius ALEA (23)- ? (5) . 28
Honorius .. ALEA (26)- ? (4) .. 30
'7 - 95
.Antioch.
Theodosius I ANTA (2)-P (2)- ? () .. 5
Arcadius .. ANTA (3)-P (i)- ? (z) .. 6
Honorius .. ANTA (5)- () .. .. 6

..- 25
Cyzicus.
Arcadius .. SMKA (3) 3
Honorius .. ..SMKA (3) 3
i 7
Nicomedia.
Theodosius I SMNB (i)-A () . 2
Arcadius .. SMNA (i)-B (i) 2
Honorius .. SMNA (I) I

Constantinople.
Theodosius I CONS ? (I) .. I
Arcadius .. CONSA (I)-B (I)-- ? (3) 5
Honorius .. CONS ? () ..
2 --
9
Heraclea.
Arcadius .. SMHA (2) 2 2
Mints illegible.
Theodosius I .o 6
Arcadius .. i6 - 22
-
Emperors and mints illegible ..18 18

i85
TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. i8i

XXIII. GLORIAROMANORVM. Two emperors.

Heraclea.
Honorius .. .. SMHA (I) ... .. . .. -
Mint illegible.
Honorius .... .. -

XXIV. VIRTVSEXERCITI. Emperor crowned by Victory.

Mint illegible.
Honorius . .... .... I I
Emperor and mint illegible .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. 3 3

XXV. GLORIAROMANORVM. Emperordraggingcaptive.

Rome.
Arcadius .. .. . RT (i) ....... . I - I

OBVERSE BROCKAGES.
Arcadius . 3
Honorius .. .. .. I -4

BARBAROUS IMITATIONS.
Securitas Reipublicae type ....... 12
Victoria Auggg type (two Victories)
Votis type .. ....
.. *? *- * * 56
Victoria Auggg type (one Victory) ....... I2
Salus Reipublicae type .. . 57
Urbs Roma Felix type
Concordia type (cross) .. .. .. .. .. .. 69
Rad. head r. 1
Standing figure i
Unidentifiable I
13
Lead 3 -
215

Wholly unidentifiable ........ ..

...... .658

This hoard was found at Hawara in the Fayum.

As regards the date of deposit, many of the coins of Theodosius,
Arcadius, and Honorius, especially of series xxII, were in very fresh
condition. There were no types included which can be dated after
the death of Arcadius, unless it is supposed that the barbarous
imitations, most of which were little worn, were struck later. But
these were all (so far as the origin of the types can be determined)
copied from the coins of Honorius and earlier emperors, and there is
no strong ground for considering them as other than virtually
contemporary with the imperial issues with which they circulated
and which they imitated. The hoard may therefore be taken to have
been formed about A.D. 400-4Io.
The following table gives the numbers of specimens of each series
from the various mints of the empire. Series Ix, xxI, and xxIv are
omitted, as no example in these three has the mint-name preserved.
MINT. I II III IV v VI vii viI x xinxii xiii xiv

Alexandria .. 8 16 - 6 - 73 - - I - - - - 151
19

Antioch .. .. 6 I 10 2 6 I 18 - I 10 - -. 2 66
3

2 4 9 - - - 2 I I I 3 - - 3 16
Cyzicus ....

Nicomedia .. - -- - 2 - - I10
4 4 4 4 4

Heraclea .....-i-2 . . -

Thessalonica .. - -- - - - - -

.. ... I --
Aquileia

Rome 10 - - - 4 - - 5 - 8 - - -
....14 i

Aries ..... I

Lyons .... I

Treves .. .. 2 I

Total ..40 41 5? 3 2z z 106 I 4 9 I7 I Iz Io 247

TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT. i83
The presence of so many barbarous imitations of the imperial
coinage in this hoard lends it a special interest. Egypt was always a
happy hunting-ground of the forger of coins (see J.E.A. iv, 185):
in Ptolemaic times plated silver tetradrachms and leaden imitations
of bronze were produced, and in the early part of the fourth century
enormous quantities of cast bronze coins were in circulation. But
the imitations of this period differ from the earlier ones in being
struck, apparently from unfixed dies, as two specimens in the hoard
from the same dies have them placed in reversed positions, and not a
few show obverse and reverse at an angle. In the discussion of
hoard A it was pointed out that the work of the Alexandrian mint
under Julianus was exceptionally careless; and it might be supposed
that the mint had gone from bad to worse in the following fifty years,
and that these barbarous issues actually represent the work of the
government officials. But there are many examples of the Alexandrian
issues in this hoard, and these show that there was in fact some
improvement in the productions of the mint under Valens and
Theodosius: at any rate it was able to turn out coins with an in-
telligible legend. The specimens classed as barbarous sometimes
show a fair attempt at rendering the types, but the legends are
always hopelessly confused, varying from a meaningless jumble of
letters to a mere ring of dots. Some also are copied from types which
were not struck at Alexandria officially, e.g. the Urbs Roma Felix
type of Honorius. It would seem probable that some enterprising
but unskilful persons in Upper Egypt engraved dies and struck coins
on their own account, imitating as best they could the official coins
in circulation.
The degradation of types is interesting, as the whole process of
breaking up a figure, e.g. Victory, into a few disconnected lines can
be traced.
At first sight it appears strange that such extremely poor copies
of coins should have been accepted as current. But the composition
of the hoard shows that anything almost would pass muster, as
indeed is the case to this day in some parts of the Near East. A
bronze coin of Antiochus IV could have no sort of legal backing in
the fourth century A.D., and would be technically on the same footing
as the most recent imitation. And the presence in the hoard of three
bits of lead bearing a superficial resemblance to coins suggests that
not even good metal was guaranteed, apart from its possible token-
value. Moreover, many of the coins of the imperial series were worn
almost smooth, so that the types could barely be distinguished, and
chipped away at the edges: and there was a large number of pieces
of bronze of which the most that can be said is that they have the
appearance of having once been Roman imperial coins of the fourth
century.
As a matter of fact, the coins were merely current as tokens, with
I84 TWO ROMAN HOARDS OF COINS FROM EGYPT.

very little relation to their metal value. The depreciation of the

currency in Egypt in the fourth century went forward at a pace
which would have been thought extraordinary five years ago. The
billon tetradrachm of the Alexandrian mint, which was reckoned as
the equivalent of the denarius, rapidly disappeared from circulation
after the reform of 296, and the statements of reckoning in papyri,
which had previously been based on the drachma, began to be given
in denarii. The fall in the value of the denarius made it an impossibly
small unit: as early as 316 the ' myriad' appears, and by 340 it had
become normal. The prices quoted in the fourth century show that
no lower unit than this would have been of any practical use-e.g. at
Oxyrhynchos in 362 the value of a hide was 750 myriads of denarii
(P. Oxy. Io57).
The only coinage current in Egypt was composed of the gold
solidus and this bronze: and the equations cited in the papyri give
some clue to the valuation of the bronze. In a late fourth-century
letter (P. Oxy. 1223), the writer states that the solidus has dropped
to 2020 myriads: and other papyri of the same period make this
equation seem probable. It would therefore appear likely that these
little bronze coins of the time of Theodosius passed current as myriads
of denarii: there is nothing impossible in this from the point of
view of metal values, as the average weight of the coins is about one
gramme, so that the equivalent of a solidus would be about 20 kilos
of bronze coinage, and it is not probable that this weight of bronze
would be worth anything approaching a solidus as metal.
The chaos of the Egyptian currency was indeed so great that in
the fifth century recourse had to be made to barter and payments in
kind, and the myriad disappears from documents of account, to be
replaced as the century drew to a close by the gold nomisma as the
standard of reckoning, with fractional statements in carats.
A representative series of coins from these two hoards has been
presented to the British Museum by Professor Petrie.