PUNIC EMPIRE COIN AMONG OLDEST DISCOVERED IN BRITAIN

A 2,300-year-old coin found after flooding along the River Avon near Bath has revealed details of early maritime activity up the Bristol Channel.

The 20mm coin was spotted in receding floodwaters in 2012, but the owner kept the details private until now.

It has been verified by the British Museum and is understood to be a Carthaginian coin, minted around Sardinia in 300-264 BC.

Several similar examples have been recorded but only from the coastline.

On one side of the coin is an image of Tanit - a Punic and Phoenician goddess - and on the reverse is a horse's head.

Dr Sam Moorhead, who recorded it for the British Museum, said it could have been struck at one of several mints in the Punic Empire, including Carthage and cities in Sardinia.

"It is certainly one of the earliest coins found in Britain," he said, adding other examples had been found from Cornwall, around the south coast to Kent, and up the east coast to Lincolnshire.

To read the complete article, see:
Ancient coin suggests early activity on Bristol Channel (www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-32289791)

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web