Roman Coins Found in Britain: A Collector’s Guide

There is something genuinely extraordinary about holding a Roman coin in your hand. A small, worn disc of bronze or silver, perhaps two thousand years old, stamped with the face of an emperor who ruled over a vast empire – and yet here it is, sitting in your palm, found in a field somewhere in Lincolnshire or Kent. Roman coins are one of the most accessible entry points into ancient history, and for British collectors, they carry a particular resonance. Rome occupied Britain for nearly four centuries, and the evidence of that occupation is literally buried beneath our feet.

This guide is for anyone who is curious about starting a Roman coin collection in the UK – whether you have just found your first coin with a metal detector, spotted something intriguing at a car boot sale, or simply want to understand what all the fuss is about. We will cover what Roman coins you are likely to encounter, how to buy them legally and sensibly, how to identify and research what you have found, and how to look after your collection properly.

Why Roman Coins Are So Common in Britain

Britain, known to the Romans as Britannia, was part of the Roman Empire from AD 43 until around AD 410. During those nearly four hundred years, Roman coinage circulated throughout the country. Coins were used to pay soldiers stationed at forts along Hadrian’s Wall, to buy goods in towns like Londinium (London), Eboracum (York), and Aquae Sulis (Bath), and to conduct trade across the province.

When the Roman period ended, enormous quantities of coins remained in circulation, were lost in fields, dropped in rivers, or deliberately buried in hoards. Britain has produced some of the largest Roman coin hoards ever found anywhere in the former empire. The Frome Hoard, discovered in Somerset in 2010, contained 52,503 coins. The Cunetio Hoard, found near Marlborough in 1978, held over 54,000. This legacy means that genuine Roman coins are genuinely plentiful, which is one reason they remain affordable and accessible to ordinary collectors.

Understanding the Different Types of Roman Coins

Roman coinage had a fairly consistent structure for much of its history, though it changed considerably over the centuries. As a beginner, it helps to know the main denominations you are likely to encounter.

• Sestertius – A large, heavy bronze coin, typically around 30-35mm in diameter. Sestertii were produced from the reign of Augustus through to the third century AD. They often carry beautifully detailed portraits and reverse designs, but worn examples are very common.
• As and Dupondius – Smaller bronze coins, similar in appearance to the sestertius but lighter. The dupondius can often be identified by a radiate (spiky) crown on the emperor’s portrait.
• Denarius – The silver coin that formed the backbone of the Roman economy for centuries. About the size of a modern 5p piece. Many collectors focus specifically on denarii because they are historically significant, relatively affordable, and often well-preserved.
• Antoninianus – Introduced in the third century AD, this silver (later heavily debased) coin also features a radiate crown. Vast numbers were produced, and they turn up frequently in British hoards.
• Follis and later bronzes – Fourth-century coinage went through significant reform under Diocletian and Constantine. The small bronze coins of this period are sometimes called “late Roman bronzes” or LRBs, and they are among the most commonly found coins in Britain. Affordable, plentiful, and often in reasonable condition.
• Aureus and Solidus – Gold coins. Rare, expensive, and unlikely to be a beginner’s first purchase, but worth knowing about. A genuine gold aureus in good condition can fetch thousands of pounds at auction.

The condition of Roman coins varies enormously. Numismatists use a grading scale ranging from Poor (barely identifiable) through Fine, Very Fine, and Extremely Fine, up to Mint State (virtually uncirculated). For Roman coins, even a coin graded Fine or Good Fine can be perfectly attractive and historically interesting. Do not feel you need to spend heavily on high-grade examples when you are starting out.

The Legal Side: What You Need to Know in the UK

This is genuinely important, and it is something every collector in Britain needs to understand before they buy or find anything.

If you are metal detecting, you must have the landowner’s permission before you search any land. Detecting on protected sites – Scheduled Ancient Monuments, for example – is illegal under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, and the penalties can be severe. Always check whether land is scheduled before you swing a detector near it. Historic England maintains a public database of scheduled monuments, and many detecting clubs share knowledge about where it is and is not appropriate to search.

Under the Treasure Act 1996, certain finds must be reported to the local coroner within 14 days of discovery. For coins, the Act applies to groups of two or more coins that are at least 300 years old and contain ten percent or more precious metal. Most Roman silver and gold coins therefore fall under Treasure legislation. Single Roman bronze coins do not qualify as Treasure, but they should still be reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS).

The PAS is a brilliant resource. Run by the British Museum in partnership with museums across England and Wales, it records archaeological finds made by members of the public. Reporting your finds is free, the Finds Liaison Officers (FLOs) are genuinely helpful, and the data goes into a publicly searchable database that benefits researchers and collectors alike. It is also simply the right thing to do.

When buying Roman coins, purchase only from reputable dealers who can provide provenance information – ideally a documented history of ownership predating the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which is widely used as a benchmark in the international antiquities trade. Reputable UK dealers include those who are members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) or the International Association of Professional Numismatists (IAPN).

Where to Buy Roman Coins in the UK

You have several good options as a beginner, each with different advantages.

Specialist coin dealers are your safest and often most educational option. Many UK dealers focus specifically on ancient coins. Dealers such as Spink & Son in London (one of the oldest numismatic houses in the world, founded in 1666), Roma Numismatics, and Timeline Auctions all handle Roman coins regularly. Visiting a dealer in person gives you the chance to ask questions, handle coins before buying, and get a feel for what good and poor quality look like in practice.

Coin fairs are an underrated resource. The Coinex fair in London is one of the largest in Europe, and regional fairs run throughout the year. The British Numismatic Trade Association website lists upcoming events. Fairs let you compare coins side by side and often offer better prices than retail shops.

Online auctions such as eBay can yield bargains, but they carry risks. Fakes and misidentified coins are common. If you are buying from eBay, look for sellers with strong feedback scores, read listings carefully, and be very cautious about anything priced suspiciously low for what it claims to be. A genuine silver denarius of a well-known emperor in recognisable condition should cost somewhere between £20 and £150 depending on rarity and condition – if someone is selling one for £3, something is wrong.

Specialist auction houses including Dix Noonan Webb, Baldwins, and Classical Numismatic Group (CNG) hold regular sales. These are ideal for slightly more expensive purchases where provenance is well-documented.

How to Identify a Roman Coin

Identification is one of the most rewarding parts of Roman coin collecting. It is a skill that takes time to develop, but the tools available to beginners today are exceptional.

Start by examining the obverse (front) of the coin. Most Roman coins feature an emperor’s portrait facing right, with a legend running around the edge. The legend gives the emperor’s name and titles, usually abbreviated. Common abbreviations include AVG (Augustus, a title meaning revered), CAES (Caesar), and IMP (Imperator, or commander). If you can read even part of the legend, you can often identify the emperor.

The reverse typically shows a deity, personification, or scene, again with a legend. Common reverse types include VICTORIA (Victory), SPES (Hope), CONCORDIA (Harmony), and many others. The reverse often also carries a mint mark in the exergue – the small section at the bottom of the coin – which can tell you where and sometimes when the coin was struck.

For identification, the following resources are invaluable:

1. wildwinds.com – A free online database with thousands of images of Roman coins organised by emperor and type. An excellent starting point.
2. The Portable Antiquities Scheme database (finds.org.uk) – Searchable records of coins found in England and Wales, with photographs and identification details.
3. Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC) – The standard academic reference work for Roman coins. It runs to ten volumes and is expensive, but university libraries often hold copies, and many collectors acquire individual volumes over time.
4. David Sear’s Roman Coins and Their Values – A more accessible (and affordable) five-volume reference set widely used by collectors. Sear numbers are used as a common shorthand when buying and selling.
5. Online forums – Communities such as the Forum Ancient Coins discussion board and the Reddit community r/AncientCoins have helpful members who are willing to assist with identifications. Post clear photographs in good lighting, and you will usually get an answer quickly.

Spotting Fakes

Forgeries exist, and beginners are sometimes caught out. The good news is that with a little knowledge, many fakes are easy to spot.

Cast fakes are among the most common. These are made by creating a mould from a genuine coin and casting metal into it. Cast coins often have a slightly soft, blurry appearance to the details, small bubbles or pitting on the surface, and a seam line running around the edge where the mould halves joined. Genuine struck coins have sharper, crisper
details, and the metal flows differently under a die than it does in a mould, giving struck coins a particular quality that is difficult to replicate convincingly.

Electrotype copies are another type of reproduction you may encounter. These are made by electroplating a thin shell of metal over a wax or lead core, and they were produced in large numbers during the nineteenth century, often as museum study pieces. Many are actually marked as copies on the edge or reverse, though the marks can be worn or deliberately removed. Electrotypes tend to feel lighter than genuine coins of the same size, and close examination will sometimes reveal a seam where two halves of the shell were joined. More recently, struck forgeries made with proper dies have become a greater concern, as these can be harder to identify. For these, you need to rely on weight, diameter, metal composition, and stylistic analysis — comparing the coin carefully against published reference examples from known genuine specimens.

The best protection against fakes is knowledge. Read widely, handle as many genuine coins as you can at museum study days and collector club meetings, and buy from reputable dealers who are members of recognised trade associations such as the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA). When in doubt, ask for a receipt that describes the coin in detail, and for significant purchases consider having the coin examined by an independent specialist before completing the transaction. Provenance — a documented history of ownership — is not a guarantee of authenticity, but a coin with a long, traceable history is generally a reassuring sign.

Conclusion

Collecting Roman coins found in Britain is a pursuit that connects you directly to one of the most consequential periods in these islands’ history. A small bronze nummus pulled from a Lincolnshire field or purchased from a dealer’s tray was once carried, spent, and handled by people living under Roman rule — soldiers, merchants, farmers, and townspeople going about their daily lives nearly two thousand years ago. Starting modestly, learning steadily, and buying carefully will allow you to build a collection that is both historically meaningful and genuinely enjoyable to own.