A quantity of 97 Roman silver denarii, dating from 141 BC to 46 A.D. discovered in a field in the Dorset village of Chilfrome in the UK have been sold by Noonans Mayfair. The coins brought a hammer price of £16,625 – two and a half times its pre-sale estimate.

The highest prices paid was for a historically significant denarius from the reign of Emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) which realized a hammer price of £3,200 – four times its high estimate.

“This was an extremely exciting hoard that represents the beginning of the Roman Occupation in Britain,” said Bradley Hopper of Noonans. “It is a testament to a key event in British history in 43 A.D. and the conquest of the British Tribes. The hoard was deposited right at the heart of this activity around 47 A.D., lying almost equidistant between the important hill forts and not only is it of importance to the history of Dorset, it is important nationally as it is the only known purely Roman hoard from the Roman invasion of South West England. Why the coins were buried is not known, but one suggestion is that the coins were the lost wages or pay-packet of a Roman soldier, but who knows!” 

The hoard, which was 100% sold, was sold in 57 lots on November 12 attracted global interest with bidders from the UK, USA, Europe and New Zealand.

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