Bourne Valley Hoard

The coins were contained in a complete Roman vessel buried upright within a pit cut into the natural chalk. 

The coins are, with only a single exception, all of the denomination known as a radiate (after the radiant crown worn by the emperors depicted). They date from the joint reign of emperors Valerian I and Gallienus (253-60) to early in the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Radiate coins had a silver metal content that was progressively debased with metal of lesser value in the late third century. The exception here is a base- silver coin of the denomination known as a denarius from the reign of Galleinus (260-68). 

The find was duly reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) and subsequently excavated under controlled conditions by skilled PAS and British Museum staff. 

Salisbury Museum has an archaeological collection of national and international importance, with holdings including objects from Stonehenge and remains from a Roman villa at Downton, Wiltshire. The Bourne Valley Hoard is the first complete coin hoard of this period to join the collection.