Metal Detecting Coins of Roman Britain – 3rd and 4th Centuries

The coinage of the 3rd and 4th Centuries is complex and confusing.

It was a time when the Roman Empire was under attack on many fronts and the economy was in decline. Many reforms of the coinage were attempted and few lasted more than a short time. The most significant coin issues are described below:

First introduced by the Emperor Caracalla in AD 214, this coin was initially struck in silver and valued at 2 Denarii. The coin was named after Caracalla’s official name – “Antoninus” and showed the Emperor wearing the radiate crown, hence its more common name “Radiate”. When first issued, this coin was about 22mm in diameter and struck in reasonably good silver (about 50% fine). As the 3rd Century progressed, inflation reduced it, both in size and silver content until it became a bronze coin, sometimes only 10 mm in diameter, until production finally ceased at the end of the century. This coin was issued in vast quantities by both legitimate and usurper Emperors.

Many illegal copies were produced, mainly of poor quality, hence their common name – “Barbarous Radiates”

Issued by the Emperor Diocletion in about AD 295, this was, initially, a large coin of about 25-30 mm diameter struck in bronze with a thin silver was applied. Within 20 years or so the Follis had been reduced to a small bronze coin of about 18-20 mm with no attempt at silvering.