West Bagborough Hoard

In October 2001, metal detectorist James Hawkesworth discovered an extraordinary find near West Bagborough in Somerset, England: the West Bagborough Hoard. This treasure comprises 670 Roman coins and 72 pieces of hacksilver. Following a treasure inquest in Taunton, the hoard was declared treasure and valued at £40,650.

The Somerset County Museum Services, with help from the Somerset County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, acquired the find. Today, these ancient artifacts can be admired at the Museum of Somerset, situated on the grounds of Taunton Castle.

The hoard includes a total of 681 coins, featuring two denarii from the early 2nd century and a mix of miliarense and siliqua from AD 337 to 367. Most of the coins were minted during the reigns of Emperors Constantius II and Julian, originating from mints in France, Germany, and Italy. In addition to the coins, the hoard contains 64 pieces of hacksilver, with a combined weight of 722 grams. The most recent coins in the collection indicate that the hoard was buried around AD 365.