ID
20921
Permalink
Hoard name
MOTIȘ
Data type
Hoard
Date of discovery (from)
Sep 2023
Total number of coins
925
Summary
A hoard of around 925 imperial denarii and antoniniani (radiates) was found while metal detecting. The coins were placed in three pots: 600, 208, 100
Another 17 coins were discovered at the place following archaeological investigations.
Three small excavation units were opened: C1, C2, and C3.
Square 1 (C1) - dimensions 1.50x1.50 m. Immediately after the removal of the vegetation layer, the upper part of the ancient pit (G1) was observed. The identified pit had a round shape, with a diameter of approximately 55 cm and a depth of 35 cm from the current ground level. From this pit was extracted a hoard containing almost 208 coins. No other coin was discovered during the digging.
Square 2 (C2) – dimensions 2x2 m. Two pits were observed immediately under the vegetation layer. In the first one, G 2, a hoard with almost 100 coins was found; it has an oval shape measuring 120x80 cm, with the longer axis orientated N-S and a depth of -45 cm from the actual level. In this pit four coins were discovered. A second pit, G 2a, also has an oval shape, 50x40 cm, and a depth of -40 cm from the actual level; from this pit, two more coins were recovered, very probably made by natural causes, maybe a falling tree, etc. With the exception of the coins from G2, who probably fall near the pot, all the other coins found in square 2 (C2) were spread because of natural issues.
Square 3 - dimensions 2x2 m. Under the vegetation layer were found three pits, two of them being created by natural causes. One of the G 3/1 was the hoard’s pit; here the largest hoard was found, containing over 600 coins. It had an oval form with the dimensions 50x36 cm, orientated lengthwise E-V, with a depth of 54 cm. Here two coins were discovered in the pit, probably near the pot; the other 8 coins were found scattered on the surface of the square, moved around due to natural causes. It is very possible that some coin from the periphery, such as coin 3, is from another hoard situated nearby.
The recovered coins can be distributed to squares and issuers as follows:
- square 1 – no coin found;
- square 2 – 6 coins: Septimius Severus – 1, Elagabalus – 2 (Iulia Soaemias – 1), Severus Alexander – 1 (Julia Mamaea – 1), Maximinus Thrax – 1 and Gordianus III – 1;
- square 3 – 10 coins: Commodus – 2, Septimius Severus – 3 (Caracalla – 1), Elagabalus – 2 and Severus Alexander – 3 (Julia Mamaea – 1);
- outside squares – 1 coin: Severus Alexander – 1.
