ROMAN COIN HOARD FOUND IN A WELSH FIELD

A hoard of coins issued by Roman general Mark Antony have been discovered in a Welsh field - more than 2,000 years later.

The coins - unearthed by two friends out walking - have been hailed by history experts as "a significant find".

Dr Richard Annear, 65, and John Player, 43, found the silver coins dating back to 31 BC buried in a field near the small village of Wick, Vale of Glamorgan.

Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Annear reported the find to curators who were able to lift a small pot containing the coins out of the ground.

A numismatist described the three Roman denarii(corr) coins as "worth tens of thousands of pounds".

Mark Antony was a key ally of Julius Caesar and played a pivotal role in the growth of the Roman empire.

The powerful general engaged in a passionate affair with queen of Egypt Cleopatra after leaving his wife in Rome.

Assistant keeper at the National Museum of Wales Edward Besly said: "Each coin represents about a day's pay at the time, so the hoard represents a significant sum of money."

"The hoard's find spot is only a mile as the crow flies from that of another second century silver hoard found in 2000.

"Together the hoards point to a prosperous coin-using economy in the area in the middle of the second century."

To read the complete article, see:
2,000-year-old coins issued by Roman general Marc Antony found in Welsh field declared 'treasure' (www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Coins-issued-Roman-general-Marc-Anthony-Welsh/story-28247422-detail/story.html)

To read the complete article, see:
Hoard of Roman coins dating back to Mark Antony are discovered in Welsh field: 91 pieces of 2,000-year-old silver could be worth 'tens of thousands of pounds' (www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3334908/Significant-hoard-Roman-coins-discovered-Wales-Silver-money-issued-Marc-Antony-2-000-years-ago.html)

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