Canterbury-St Martin's hoard
Encyclopedia
The Canterbury-St Martin's hoard is a coin-hoard
found in the 19th century at Canterbury
, Kent
dating from the 6th century. It consists of eight items, including three gold coins.
by Charles Roach Smith
. All that Smith knew of the date when they were found was that it was "a few years since", as he wrote in 1844. The location of the hoard is usually given as the churchyard
of St Martin's Church
in Canterbury. However, the first publication about the find, by Smith, states that the find was on the "grounds of the monastery of St Augustine". The objects were acquired by W. H. Rolfe, a resident of Sandwich, Kent
in two stages, a first acquisition of three items acquired before April 1844, and five more items procured soon after September 1844.
The first three items were first published in 1844 in Collectanea Antiqua, and when the five further items were obtained, that publication was amended to reflect the new items. Smith then published the entire contents of the hoard in the Numismatic Chronicle in 1845.
The items in the hoard have been examined by x-ray
and fluorescent. The author of this study, S. C. Hawkes, argues that the eight items in the hoard were found in different graves. However, the historian Philip Grierson
felt that the possibility of two graves from different time periods both containing coins of the same period was so small as to make the likelihood of the hoard coming from two graves slim.
The hoard is the only late-6th- or early-7th-century find of gold jewellery in a grave in a churchyard. All of the coins in the hoard were probably part of a necklace that was buried in a woman's grave. One of the items in the hoard, the Liudhard medalet
, is the earliest surviving Anglo-Saxon
coin.
The first three items listed were the original items acquired by Rolfe, with the others being acquired later.
Besides these eight items, it appears likely that at least one other item originally was found with the above items:
There may have been other items that were found with the hoard, but their idenification is not possible.
. From Rolfe, the eight items were acquired by Joseph Mayer, who gave them to the City Museums of Liverpool, which became the World Museum later.
Hoard
In archaeology, a hoard is a collection of valuable objects or artifacts, sometimes purposely buried in the ground. This would usually be with the intention of later recovery by the hoarder; hoarders sometimes died before retrieving the hoard, and these surviving hoards may be uncovered by...
found in the 19th century at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
dating from the 6th century. It consists of eight items, including three gold coins.
Discovery and publication
The hoard was found some time before 25 April 1844, when some of the items from the find were first discussed at a meeting of the Royal Numismatic SocietyRoyal Numismatic Society
The Royal Numismatic Society is a learned society and charity based in London, United Kingdom which promotes research into all branches of numismatics...
by Charles Roach Smith
Charles Roach Smith
Charles Roach Smith , FSA, was an English antiquarian and amateur archaeologist who was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, and the London Numismatic Society. He was a founding member of the British Archaeological Association...
. All that Smith knew of the date when they were found was that it was "a few years since", as he wrote in 1844. The location of the hoard is usually given as the churchyard
Churchyard
A churchyard is a patch of land adjoining or surrounding a church which is usually owned by the relevant church or local parish itself. In the Scots language or Northern English language this can also be known as a kirkyard or kirkyaird....
of St Martin's Church
St Martin's Church, Canterbury
The Church of St Martin in Canterbury, England, situated slightly beyond the city centre, is England's oldest parish church in continuous use. Since 1668 St Martin's has been part of the benefice of St Martin & St Paul Canterbury. Both St Martin's and nearby St Paul's churches are used for weekly...
in Canterbury. However, the first publication about the find, by Smith, states that the find was on the "grounds of the monastery of St Augustine". The objects were acquired by W. H. Rolfe, a resident of Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
in two stages, a first acquisition of three items acquired before April 1844, and five more items procured soon after September 1844.
The first three items were first published in 1844 in Collectanea Antiqua, and when the five further items were obtained, that publication was amended to reflect the new items. Smith then published the entire contents of the hoard in the Numismatic Chronicle in 1845.
The items in the hoard have been examined by x-ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
and fluorescent. The author of this study, S. C. Hawkes, argues that the eight items in the hoard were found in different graves. However, the historian Philip Grierson
Philip Grierson
Philip Grierson, FBA was a British historian and numismatist, emeritus professor of numismatics at Cambridge University and a fellow of Gonville and Caius College for over seventy years...
felt that the possibility of two graves from different time periods both containing coins of the same period was so small as to make the likelihood of the hoard coming from two graves slim.
The hoard is the only late-6th- or early-7th-century find of gold jewellery in a grave in a churchyard. All of the coins in the hoard were probably part of a necklace that was buried in a woman's grave. One of the items in the hoard, the Liudhard medalet
Liudhard medalet
The Liudhard medalet is a gold Anglo-Saxon coin or small medal found some time before 1844 near St Martin's Church in Canterbury, England. It was part of the Canterbury-St Martin's hoard of six items. The coin, along with other items found with it, now resides in the World Museum Liverpool...
, is the earliest surviving Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
coin.
Contents
The known objects in the hoard are eight items:- An Italian tremissisTremissisTremissis was a currency of the Late Ancient Rome, equal to one-third of a solidus. Tremissis coins continued to be minted by descendants of the Roman Empire, such as Anglo-Saxon Britain or the Eastern Roman Empire.-External links:*...
with an inscription dating it to the reign of Emperor Justin IIJustin IIJustin II was Byzantine Emperor from 565 to 578. He was the husband of Sophia, nephew of Justinian I and the late Empress Theodora, and was therefore a member of the Justinian Dynasty. His reign is marked by war with Persia and the loss of the greater part of Italy...
, who reigned 565 to 578 - The Liudhard medaletLiudhard medaletThe Liudhard medalet is a gold Anglo-Saxon coin or small medal found some time before 1844 near St Martin's Church in Canterbury, England. It was part of the Canterbury-St Martin's hoard of six items. The coin, along with other items found with it, now resides in the World Museum Liverpool...
, an Anglo-SaxonAnglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
gold coin or medallion, dating from the late 6th century - A gold coin imitating a 4th-century bronze coin, featuring two soldiers on one side
- A solidusSolidus (coin)The solidus was originally a gold coin issued by the Romans, and a weight measure for gold more generally, corresponding to 4.5 grams.-Roman and Byzantine coinage:...
with a bust on one side - A Frankish tremissis of Merovingian date minted at St Bertrand-de-Comminges
- A Frankish tremissis of Merovingian date minted at Agen
- An intaglio of Roman manufacture set in gold
- A circular brooch
The first three items listed were the original items acquired by Rolfe, with the others being acquired later.
Besides these eight items, it appears likely that at least one other item originally was found with the above items:
- A coin with an inscription of Oloron set in a loop, which is now in the Bibliotheque Nationale
There may have been other items that were found with the hoard, but their idenification is not possible.
Ownership and current location
Besides the Oloron coin, which is at the Bibliotheque Nationale, the other eight items are at the World Museum LiverpoolWorld Museum Liverpool
World Museum is a large museum in Liverpool, England which has extensive collections covering archaeology, ethnology and the natural and physical sciences. Special attractions include the Natural History Centre and a free Planetarium. Entry to the museum itself is also free...
. From Rolfe, the eight items were acquired by Joseph Mayer, who gave them to the City Museums of Liverpool, which became the World Museum later.