Rare Roman Coin Found in Somerset Could Fetch £8,000 at Auction

The auction for this rare coin will take place on October 22 at Noonans Mayfair, and experts believe it could sell for between £6,000 and £8,000.

An extremely rare silver coin from Roman Emperor Carausius was found in Somerset. It's expected to sell for up to £8,000 at auction on October 22.

A very special silver coin from the time of the Roman Empire is set to make headlines. The coin, called a denarius, is linked to Emperor Carausius. It was discovered by a man named Mike Clark, who is 73 years old. 

He found the coin in a field in South Brewham, Somerset. The auction for this rare coin will take place on October 22 at Noonans Mayfair, and experts believe it could sell for between £6,000 and £8,000.

Mike Clark, who lives in Wimborne, Dorset, has been metal detecting for 52 years. He joined a group of around 20 other treasure hunters for an organized dig on June 9. 

[Mike Clark has been metal detecting for over 50 years and discovered the Roman coin in Somerset. Image: Collected]

The group was searching in pasture fields when Mike started his search. In the morning, he didn’t find anything special. But in the afternoon, while looking in another field, he got his first signal—a £1 coin.

Excited by this find, he continued to search. Suddenly, his metal detector beeped again. 

He dug down six inches and discovered a silver coin. Mike instantly recognized it as a denarius from the Roman Emperor Carausius. Knowing its importance, he quickly contacted the local finds liaison officer. This was so the coin could be properly recorded and preserved.

The coin has unique features that make it very special. Nigel Mills, a coins and artifacts expert at Noonans, explained that this coin has a bust of Carausius wearing a laurel crown. 

Carausius was an important figure in Roman history. He commanded the Roman fleet called “Classis Britannica,” which operated in the English Channel. In AD 286, Emperor Maximian ordered Carausius's execution because he suspected Carausius of hiding treasure taken from pirates.

After this event, Carausius declared himself Emperor of Britain and northern Gaul. This act made Britain an independent state for a time. Because of this, some people consider him the first “brexiteer,” a term used for those who support independence from larger groups.

The coin also shows a lion holding a thunderbolt. In front of the lion, you can see the letters "RSR." This abbreviation comes from the poet Virgil's work, meaning “the kingdom of Saturn returns.” This suggests that Carausius wanted to bring back a time of great prosperity under his rule.

Sadly, Carausius was murdered seven years later by his finance minister, Allectus. This rare coin not only reflects the history of Roman Britain but also has a story of power and ambition behind it.

Mike Clark, now a retired commercial fisherman, will share the auction proceeds with the landowner of the field where he found the coin. This find is a reminder of the rich history that lies beneath our feet, waiting to be discovered.

 

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