Roman Coin Hoards

Coin hoards have been found all over Scotland. These may have been payments to tribes, lost by Romans or simply a more modern collector of coins. These maps seek to establish geographical patterns by period. The dates given are those for the most recent coin and often the most recent date it could have been minted. No coin hoards have been discovered where the latest coin is from Agricola’s invasion. However, tribes could have been bribed through the years, and only the date of the latest coin found is given here.

The full map is below. Click on the legend to switch on and off various periods.

Flavian Coin Hoards from 96 to 143 AD

During this period, the Romans had abandoned Scotland and had retreated to forts along the Stanegate Road. Hadrian’s Wall would not have been built until 142 AD. Academics believe that the western section of the wall, built of turf, was hastily constructed in response to an external threat. The eastern part of Hadrian’s Wall was built of stone, a process that took longer.