Find Spot record 1961 - Eccleston Coin Hoard

<1> Ready W.T., 1887, Description of a Hoard of Forty-Three Roman Denarii of the Imperial Series Found Near Eccleston, Near Chester, and Belong to the Late Mr W.F. Ayrton, p.91-7 (Article in Journal). SCH7416.

A hoard of 43 Roman silver Denarii, dating from the first and second centuries AD, were found in or near Eccleston. The coins were of the Emperors Vespasian, Domitian, Nerva, Trajan, Hardrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, and Emperesses Sabina, Faustina Senior and Faustina Junior. A few of the coins are commemorative of historical events. One of the Denarii of Trajan commemorates the completion of Trajan's Dacian campaign, another his conquest of Arabia. One Denarius refers to Hadrians journey to Africa and another, the public distribution of largesses by Antoninus Pius.

<2> Watkin W.T, 1889, Recent discoveries in Lancashire and Cheshire, p.55-6 (Article in Journal). SCH5965.

At Eccleston, near Chester, and close to a large mound (or botoninus) of the Roman period, a hoard of 43 silver Denarii was found. The coins looked very fresh and unworn and Watkin believed them to have been hidden during ‘the great insurrection of Commodus’.

<3> Davies. J. T (Reverend)., 1921, Catalogue of the Roman Coins in the Chester Museum, p.157-161 (Article in Journal). SCH5687.

This list published in 1921 gave the find-spot as 'Heron Bridge ...in 1855', but was clearly describing the same hoard.

<4> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, Vol.I p.231 (Book). SCH3556.

The hoard previously associated with Eccleston, seems to have been found in the immediate vicinity of the Roman settlement.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46 SW13 Davies DA 1959 (Index). SCH2487.

The position indicated by Watkin (see 2) occurs in a pasture field which, apart form an earthwork contains no surface indications of antiquity. No record of the find exists at the Grosvenor museum, and the present location of the hoard could not be ascertained.

<6> Longley D, 1977-1978, Longley Archive, No.320 (Paper Archive). SCH2005.

<7> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R 27/02/2014 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

It is probable that the large mound described by Thompson Watkin is CHER 1965/4.