Coins

Coin

Trimontium Museum

Left: Denarius of Vespasian, reverse. Right: Denarius of Domitian, obverse.

Name/Title

Coins

Entry/Object ID

E.2023.12

Description

Two Roman coins found at Old Melrose. Denarius of Vespasian, 73AD - reverse Pontif Maxim-. Denarius of Domitian - reverse Minerva-.

Use

Used to buy goods

Context

Found at Old Melrose by Trustee

Collection

Trimontium Trust

Mintage

Time Period

1st century AD

Coin Details

Obverse

Description

Vespasian. Laureate head right. IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS

Transcription

IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS

Reverse

Description

PONTIF MAXIM Vespasianus seated right on a curule chair, with sceptre in right hand and branch in left (RIC 546)

Transcription

PONTIF MAXIM

Currency

Denarius

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Europe

Culture/Tribe

Roman

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Coin

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Money

Nomenclature Class

Exchange Media

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Composition

Material

Silver, Copper alloy

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Old Melrose

Exhibition

Permanent Exhibition

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Exhibition Caption

Label

The Trimontium Trust works closely with the Melrose Historical & Archaeological Association, an educational group dedicated to researching and promoting interest in the history of Melrose, following in the footsteps of Curle. This group has a particular interest in Old Melrose, an archaeological site of great potential, located on a promontory created by a looping meander of the river Tweed very close to Trimontium. This secluded location was a centre of religious ceremony from pre-Roman times and is a link between the Roman and Christian eras. It is most famously associated with St. Cuthbert (c.635-687) as the location of the 7th century Anglo-Saxon monastery where he began his monastic life. After his death it became a great centre of pilgrimage with a chapel built around 1098 by the bishopric of Durham