Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 112 (1982) 285-294

Romae Th n from Trapraiw nLa M F Sekulla*

ABSTRACT cataloguw ne coie A th n f eo find s beeha s n prepared. Analysi resulte th f so s suggests that coins only circulated in the local economy in the first and second century AD when the army was present in Scotland.

INTRODUCTION The extensive settlement site at Traprain Law in East Lothian has always been of great importanc archaeologicae th n i e l intra-murae studth f yo l zone durin Romae gth n period. This is almost entirely the result of the major excavations carried out there, chiefly in the first quarter of this century, which were summarized on almost an annual basis in these Proceedings between 1914 and 1923. These reports detailed the occupation deposits encountered and noted the artifact collections in a summary form. The Roman coins were also published at the same time but were generally described onl theiy yb r denominations, empero occasionalld ran reversy yb e type. Over 10 % of the total were dismissed illegible and a proportion of the remainder were misidentified at the time of publication. As such, the published record of the coins - which comprise the largest bod numismatif yo c evidence fro nativy man e sit northern ei n Britai n- presente unsatisfactorn da y source from whic e workho t th l s foun.Al d between 191 192d 4an 3 were recently re-examined at the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, together with those from Cruden's excavations in 193 othed 9an r chance finds mad t Trapraiea n betwee presene n th 189 d 8tan day. The total number of coins from Traprain is 65, excluding those from the hoard theid an , r overall distributio bess ni t viewed when presente mannea n di r uniform with other sites (fi . Thi bees g1) sha n achieve constructiny db ghistograa m based hundre e upoon na d coin sample usin formule gth a devise Ravety db z (1964 Cased )an y (1974) t musI . notee b t t da the outset however that a list of 65 coins is a very small number upon which to base any calculation and that as a result the visual indicators on the histogram may be less representative of the pattern of coin loss pertaining to the site than might a larger coin sample. The general factors which might cause the fluctuations in a coin histogram have been discussed elsewhere (Casey 1974), though the degree to which these will operate on a non-Roman site is a matter of conjecture. The mechanisms by which Roman coins were acquired by the native population and how they were subsequently used and lost remains almost totally unknown. The elucidation of even basic principles of coin circulation among the local inhabitants of Scotland is handicapped b yshortaga f comparativo e e material ,laca mainlf adequatelo ko t e ydu y provenanced coins from other known settlement sites (Robertson 1971). The coin histogram for Traprain naturally divides itself into three sections: up to 160 AD, 160 to 250, and finally from 250 to c 400 AD. * Department of Archaeology, University of Durham. 286 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , 1982

7 2 6 2 5 2 4 2 3 1 2 2 22 13-1617121 0 1 2 1 9 1 0 81 9 8 7 123 6 5 4 coin issue periods Fro 1 Traprai annua- w nLa l los10r 0spe coins (n=65)

SECTION ONE, 78 TO 160 AD Before the major campaigns of Agricola in Scotland the local population in the area had little or no contact with Roman coinage. Their first chance to acquire coins will have been as a result of contact with the army. During the initial movement of the army through the Lowlands t unlikelii t y that much coin will have changed hand s- supplie more ar s e likel havo yt e been brough frop reate u mrequisitioner th ro d rather than bough perhaps cashr wa tfo t I . s only when the Lowlands were garrisoned and a more stagnant military presence established that the army, or their civilian followers, are likely to have had such contact with the natives that trade for local goods or services may have come about and coin changed hands. It is excessively difficult to demonstrate with confidence which coinnativa n so e site could direc a hav d eha t military origin. Coin numbe catalogue rth 1n 1i e provide instancn sa e whic poiny hsucma o t hlinka . Assesf o Domitian dating to 86 AD are commonly found on Flavian military sites in Scotland in unworn conditio Professod nan r Robertson (1968; 1975 argues )ha d that these comprised parcona f o t- signmen coinf o t s importe furniso dt arme hth y wit thesf ho paye e occurOn . t Trapraisa onln i y slightla y worn conditio becausd nan e there direc o appearn e b t militaro st y activity evidenced site th e n ther o strona s ei g likelihood that this coin derives fro mmilitara y source, although precisely how it was acquired and then lost is impossible to detail. Indeed, the other Flavian or earlier coinhavy ma se resula arrivesite s th ea f trad o tn do e wit Flaviae hth n army-buo t t sugges tthef thao sucd l m origin ha tal h a n woul mose db t unwise hige .hTh degre weaf eo r visible on severa thef o l m suggests instea dsomewhaa t later tim arrivaf eo Scotlandn li . This, however, presumes that they circulated elsewhere for a long period before loss at Traprain. A high tota coinf o l nexs si t apparen reige th Antoninu f r no tfo s Pius (Perioestabe Th . -d7) lishment of the Forth-Clyde frontier and the incorporation of the lowland zone into the clearly provide contexsa movemen e th r fo t morf o t e coinage int areae oth . Muce th f ho SEKULLA: THE ROMAN COINS FROM TRAPRAIN LAW j 287 currency arriving during this time may have been of Antonine date but a representation of earlier reigns shoul expectee db d (Reece 1974). Indeed e patterne b thes th ,n a r yca f wearfa so o s n -i coine judge th Nervaf so n o d- , Traja Hadriad nan Flavia e somd th nf an eo n issues woult dno preclude a date of loss in the reign of Antoninus Pius or even later. The coins of Pius themselves show very little wea thid sran argue limitea r sfo d perio circulatiof do n before loss. This observa- tios importannha t implications pattere Th . f coinno s los t Trapraid a t 2n d an n t durin1s e gth centuries suggests tha militara t y presence brought abou briea t f influ coinagf xo e int aree oth a and that this coinage continued to circulate only as long as there was a military occupation. When this was removed the coins in native hands quickly ceased to be used, as both wear patterns on the coins - together with the overall pattern of loss - imply and that as a result there was no circulating Roman coinag Scotlann ei d very soon afte demis e Antonine th r th f eo e frontier.

SECTION TWO, 160 TO c 250 AD The withdrawal from the Forth-Clyde frontier coincides with the start of an hiatus in the coin record which lasts for a period of nearly one hundred years and a corresponding break in the occupation of the site has been suggested based upon this limited evidence (Burley 1956). However, such a conclusion can only be regarded as valid if two concepts concerning the Roman coinage of the period can be positively demonstrated. The first of these is that the supply of coinage to Traprain was continuous - or at least as dependable as it appears to have been within province th f Britanniaeo bees ha ns suggesteA . d above thi unlikels si havo yt e bee case nth e becaus presence eth arme th f yeo profoundly affecte coie th dn supply removae hige Th . th hf o l intensity of military occupation from much of the lowland zone in the early 160s will have lowered at a stroke the opportunities for coinage later than the reign of Pius to have changed hands. Contact which allowe exchange th r dfo coinf eo seve- n supposing that such exchange still took place - will have been rendered more difficult if only because the closest source of coinage was more distant simila.A r patter havy nema pertained durin withdrawae gth Severae th f o l n forces of campaign from Scotland. The second concept which requires positive demonstration is that any supply of coinage during this period will be archaeologically detectable in the small coin sample mosn O . t site reductiosa frequence th n i coinf yo s los Aeviden0 s i tD 25 o t t 0 fro16 mc (Casey 1974; Reece 1973). Part of the reason for this is a change in the pattern of coin use with a trend toward highesa r unit valu currencf eo y- thi s centuroccurlatee d th agai2n rd n si y an n earle in th decrease e y 3rdTh . d frequenc coif yo n los siten s o thit sa s time make mort si e unlikely- even in the case of 'continuous' coin supply - that coins of this period will be included in a small coin sample .e cas Thith t Exete a es i s r wher a recentl n ei y publishe coin0 d9 lisf so t from excavations there was a gap from Faustina II to (Bidwell 1979). It is worth noting here that the small site sample may also be the cause of the apparent absence of Severan coinage at Traprain influn A .f Romao x n coinage into Scotland durin e periogth f Severusdo ' military campaigns is evidenced by the series of hoards found along the NE coast of Scotland terminating with coins of Severus (Robertson 1978). It is clear from the number of variables governing the appearance, or non-appearance, of coin t Trapraisa n tha concepto t tw neithe e coinagf th so f ro e behin theore dth sitf yo e abandon- centurd 3r d s capablyi an late mend th ef proof2n o en i t discontinuitA . f supplo y y coupled with vagarie coie th n n si los s smale patterth ld coinan n sample combin mako e t concret y ean e hypothesis regarding site occupation drawn from coin evidence alone extremely unreliable. Occupatio r abandonmenno t demonstrablno s i t e fro insufficience mth f informatioo y n that the coins alone provide. 288 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, 1982 SECTION THREE, c 250 TO 400 AD

After abou A0 Dt25 ther increasn a numbee s ei th n ei coinf ro s sit e founth e witn do h nearly two-third identifiable th f so e total belongin thio gt s period. Suc increasn hobservea e b n eca n do nearl l siteyal s wit quantity han Romaf yo n coin finds (Reece 1973). All, excep cointe oneth f so , basf o e rathear r than precious meta theid an l r obvious lac intrinsif ko c worth militates against them having comprised either booty or any part of subsidy payments from a Roman source. Attested large scale military activity in Scotland which might have provided a context for the coins to change hands after the early 3rd century as they had done earlier is almost totally lacking. Indeed, the evidence derived from sources other than the literary record would seem to poin runnina o t g militardowe th f no y establishmen Northe th n ti , possibly durin glona g period of peace (Casey 1978; 1980). This render t mucsi h more probable tha coine th t s were obtained as a result of peaceful encounters with the southern provinces rather than through hostile contact. levele Th coif so n loss indicate Trapraie th y db n histogra t corresponno o mthay d an t o dt have been noted in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall or the outpost forts - the nearest source of coin- agTraprainr efo partle .b Thiresule y smalya th sf ma o t l coin sampl t eveebu n this cannot explain aberrationse somth f eo . Notabl hige th hs ei representatio f coinno f Carausiuo s Allectud san s (Perio whic) d20 h unusually exceeds those datin 260-27o gt 3 (Period 18). Likewise vers i d t i y,od fino representatioe t th d f coinno f 318-33so 0 (Perio ) dwarfind22 lose gth s rat Perion ei 3 d2 (330-348) sitee Hadrian'n .Th so rese sEnglanf th o tWal d an l d produce histograms which show higa h degre overalf eo l similarit columne rise e fallth d th n s i san y- s frositfrequentle e emar on y mirrored on others which have a similar period of occupation and probably also of coin use. As has been discussed elsewhere (Casey 1974) this is generally the result of the 'blanketing effect' caused by changes in the currency such as reforms and alterations in coin module size brought abou imperiay tb l policy, which affecte l siteal d s wit hcirculatina g coinage. sitee templf Th so e precincts, like Traprain, produce histograms which show less predictable reaction changeo st currencye th n si sucn I . h cases variations result because coins from temples are not losses in the same way as they are on other sites - rather they are deliberate offerings, intentionally deposited sucs coine A . hth s nee t represendno currence th t y circulatin thesn go e arguabls i t i sited esan whether they would have been subjecsame th eo t tdegre f variatioeo n produced by changes in imperial policy as would coins from other sites. Even making allowances for the small coin sample the pattern of coins found at Traprain resembles that from temple sites (Ravetz 196 refs)4& . Clearly ther littls ei suggeso et t that Traprai Romaa site f th eo s nnwa temple. As a result, any similarity in the coin list with temple sites would be more profitably discusse termn di similaritf so coif yratheo e nus r tha f similaritno sitn yi e function. coine Th s from Traprain case templn th eo s i s representativt ,a e sitesno e ,ar circulatina f eo g currency absence Th . f lato e e 3rd4th-centurd an - y coins from other sites beyond Hadrian's Wall, together wit face hth t tha Trapraie th t n histogram bear resemblanco sn e thoso eth t n eo Wall would possibilit y seean m rulo t t circulatina eou f yo g Roman currenc Scotlann yi e th n di late Roman period. Neither do the coins appear to have been votively deposited, however a mechanism closely resembling votive depositio havy nema bee operationn i . Suc hmechanisa m necessitates the deliberate discard of coinage (Reece 1981) and although difficult to comprehend, could theoretically closeloccuo tw f ri y related condition satisfiede sar . Primaril coine yth s would economio n f o e havb c o aree valut th whicn ai n ei h they were lossecondld an t y should havea very negligible metallic value. The and bronze coins of the later Roman period easily fulfil the latter condition and as seen above are unlikely to have served any purpose as currency in Scotland. They were therefore valueles l intental purposesd o st san . Thus, once initial interesn i t SEKULLA: THE ROMAN COINS FROM TRAPRAIN LAW 289 them had worn off and it was evident that they served no useful purpose they could have been thrown away at any time after with little economic loss to their owners. There will have been little incentiv resula recovero et s a pattera td yan f coino n 'loss' resembling tha f southero t n temple sites may be produced - purely and simply because similar mechanisms of coin discard operate botr dfo h sites. That suc hmechanisa havn mca e operate Traprain do n does little more than emphasise the extremely peripheral part played by Roman coinage in the economy of the hillfort, and indeed the rest of Scotland, at this period. The latest datable Roman coins are incoporated into the great silver hoard found in 1919 (Curie 1923) and probably do no more than represent a minimal quantity of scrap silver. Such coins may have been in use in Roman Britain until about 425 AD (Burnett 1979) but this need not preclud lateea r dat hoard e buriaf eo th r .fo l Contrar viee th w o ywidelt y held sinc treasure eth e was originally published it need not have represented either booty from the south or indeed from continene th t (Painter 1977; Mytum 1981) hoare .Th d certainly give cluo sn e whatsoeve condio rt - tions in Roman Britain in the early 5th century. Indeed, its chief importance may have more to do with its loss or abandonment - perhaps as a result of some crisis in Scotland itself in the early centurh 5t d ymi Ao t D (Close-Brooks forthcoming).

CATALOGUE References C CrawfordRR H Roma M , n Republican Coinage RIC Mattingly, H and Sydenham, E A Roman Imperial Coinage LRBC Carson, RAG Hilld V Lat ,an P ,Kent eC RomaP J , n Bronze Coinage Condition The condition of the coins is indicated by a notation of the wear visible where this could be ascer- tained. Where possible this refers to the condition at the time of loss and ignores any corrosion subsequently deposited. UW/UW Unworn obverse, unworn reverse. Almost uncirculated. SW Slightly worn. Slight abrasio highese th f no t relief. W Worn. Los mosf so tlegendl detaial t bu ls clear. EW Extremely worn. Heavily abraded, legend and major elements of type lost. Corr Corroded. Condition prio loso rt s impossibl ascertaino et . All information concerning findspot previoud san s identification containes si Notee e th th o n dst i Catalogue.

Issue Issuer Denomination Type Reference date Condition 1. L Val Acisculus Obv, 474/C 5RR 45 BC EW/EW Rev I 2. M Antonius Denarius ObvObv |[ANTAVGIIIVIRRPC] 544/1C RR 5 W 32-3W/ C 1B Rev LEI G HI 3. Nero Denarius ObvObv lIMPNEROCAESAR-AVGVSTVS RIC 46 64-68 AD W/W RevRev [[I]VPPITE[R]-CVSTOS 4. Vespasian Denarius [IMPC]AESAR[VESPAS]IANVSAVv Ob v| G RIC as 89/99 W 75-7W/ 6 ReRevv [[COS VI... Vespasia. 5 n Denarius ObvObv JIMPCAESARfVESPASIANVSAVG] RIC 101 76 W/W RevRev ]PONMAX[TRPCOSVH] 6. Vespasian As ObvObv -— RIC as 599 77-78 SW/SW RevRev SS-C 7.Vespasian As ObvObv -— 69-79 Corr Rev — 290 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , 1982

Issue Issuer Denomination Type Reference date Condition 8. Titus Obv [TCAESIMPAVGFP]ONTRP[VICENSOR] RIC2 Ves77 s pa 77-78 EW/EW Rev [ROMA] S-C . Domitia9 n Denarius Obv[IMPCAES]DOMIT-GERMPMTRP[VIII] RIC 136a 88-89 W/W Rev IMPXVIIICOSpamCENSPP] 10. Domitian Sestertius Obv [IMPCAESDOMITAV]GGERM[CO2 S32 ..s a . C RI 86 + EW/EW Rev — 11. Domitian As Obv IMPCAESDOMITAVGGERMCOS[X]I5 I33 C RI 86 SW/SW CENSPERPP Rev MO[NETA]-AVGVSTI 12. Domitian As Obv — — 81-96 Corr Rev — 13. Nerva As Obv — RIC as 51 96-98 W/W Rev [AEQVITASAVGVST] SC 14. Trajan Denarius Obv IMPTRAIANOAVG[GER]DACPMTRP RIC as 116 103-111 SW/Corr Rev — 15. Trajan Obv IMPCAES[NERVAE]TRAIANO AVGGER RIC 605 112-114 W/W DACPMTRPCOSVIPP Rev [SPQROPTIMOPRINCIPI] S-C [AJLIMITfAL] 16. Hadrian Denarius Obv [IMPCAESARHA]DRIANVSA[VG] RIC as 71 119-122 Corr Rev [PMTR]PCOSIII . Hadria17 n Denarius Obv — RIC as 171 125-128 Corr Rev [COSHIPJ . Antoninu18 s Pius Denarius Obv — RIC as 62 140-143 Corr Rev [ANNONAAVG] 19. Antoninus Pius Denarius ANTON[INVS]-AVG[PIVS]Pv Ob P 127s a cC RI 145-161 UW/Corr Rev — . Antoninu20 s Pius As Obv — 9 87 s a C RI 150-151 Corr Rev — 21. Antoninus Pius As Obv [A]NT[ONINVSAVGPIV]SPPTRPXVIII RIC 934 154-155 SW/SW Rev [BRITANNIACOJSIII 22. FaustinaI Denarius Obv — f1 f 37 s a C RI 141 + Corr Rev — 23. Faustina I Dupondius Obv — 116C RI 4 141 + uw/uw Rev [AETER]NITAS SC 24. Valerian? Obv — 6 1 s a C RI 254-260 Corr Rev — . Gallienu25 s (SR) Antoninianus Obv — RIC as 252 260-268 SW/SW Rev — 26. (SR) Antoninianus Obv GALL[IE]NVSAVG 283C RI K 260-268 SW/SW Rev SOLICO[NSAVG] 27. Victorinus Antoninianus Obv ... VICTORINVS]PFAV[G] 8 5 s a C RI 268-270 SW/Corr Rev [PIETASAVG] 28. Victorinus Antoninianus Obv IMPC[VICTO]RINVSPFAVG RIC118A 268-270 SW/SW RevPAXAV* VI G 29. Antoninianus Obv . .. TETRICVSPFAJVG 3 11 s a C RI 270-274 SW/Corr [SPESAVJGv Re G 30. Tetricus I Antoninianus Obv [IMPCTET]RICVS[PFAVG] RIC 136A 270-274 UW/UW Rev [SPESPVIBLICA 31. TetricuI sI Antoninianus Obv .. .]TET[RICVS .. . RIC as 270 270-274 SW/Corr Rev [SPESAVGG] 32. Antoninianus Obv [IMPROBVSPJFAVG 8 17 s a C RI 276-282 UW/UW Rev [PA]X-AVG 33. Carausius Antoninianus Obv IMPCCARAVSIVSPFAVG A 98 s a C RI 286-293 Con- RevPAX-AVG S|P /// 34. Carausius Antoninianus Obv IMPCCARAVS[IVSPFAVG] RIC 98C 286-293 Con- Rev [PAXAVG] SJP ML 35. Carausius Antoninianus Obv — f f 8 13 s a C RI 286-293 Corr Rev [PAXAVJGG S|P Iff 36. Carausius Antoninianus Obv ... CAJRAVSIVSPAVG RIC as 818 286-293 Con- Rev [IVSJTITIAAVG 37. Carausius Antoninianus Obv ... CARAVSI]VSPFAV[G] RIC as 878/880 286-293 Con- Rev PA[XAVG] SEKULLA: THE ROMAN COINS FHOM TRAPRAIN LAW 291

Issue Issuer Denomination Type Reference date Condition . AUectu38 s Antoninianus Obv— | ff5 RI5 Cs a 293-296 Corr Rev [VIRTVSAVG] [Q]L 39. Galerius Obv MAXIMIANVSNOBCA[ES] RIC VI as Tr 535b 302-303 Corr Rev [GENIO]POPVLIROMANI 40. ConstantineI Follis Obv [IMPCONSTJANTINVSPFAV6 9 G r T s a I VI C RI 316-318 Corr Rev — 41. Constantine I Follis Obv CONSTANTINVSMAXAV| 0 G17 s a n Lo I VI C RI 320 SW/Corr — v Re PLON 42. ConstantineI Follis Obv CONSTANT-INVSAfVG] 3 29 n | Lo I VI C RI 324-325 SW/SW Rev PROVIDEN-TIAEAVGG PLON 43. 'ConstantinF T| e I' Follis Ob v— RIC VII Tr as 92ff 316 Con- Rev SOLIINVIC-TOCOMITI ATR 44. 'Constantine I" Follis — v Ob 4 22 n Lo s a I VI C RI 322-323 Con- Rev — 45. Constantinopolis Follis Obv — 3 52 r T s a I VI C RI 330-335 Corr Rev — 46. Constantine II Follis Obv [CONSTA]NTINVSIVNN[OBC] RIC VII Ly as 217 323-324 Corr Rev — | Pi-Gil . Magnentiu47 s Majorina Obv DNM[AGNENTIVSPFAVG] 4 3 m VIIA C s RI Ia 350-353 uw/uw Rev [SALVS]D[DNNAVG]ETCA[ESJ . Magnentiu48 s Majorina Obv [DMN]AGNEN-TIV[SPFAVG] RIC VIII Tr as 269 350-353 Corr Rev— | TRS 49. Constantius II Majorina Obv — RIC VIII Tr as 332 353 UW/UW Rev [SALVSA]VGNOSTRI 50. Valens Obv [DNV]ALEN-SPFAVG I RIC IX Ly 8 364-367 Corr Rev VOT-V-MVLT-X L[V]G Valen. 51 s Obv [DNV]ALEN-[SPFAVG] LRBC II Ly as 282 364-367 Corr Re v— OF|// . Valen52 s Centenionalis Obv [DNJVALEN-fSPFAVG] L[VG]P LRBC II as Ly 282 364-367 Corr Rev — . 'Valentinia53 n I* Centenionalis Obv — 275fy LRBL s fa CI I 364-375 Corr Rev 54. Gratian Centenionalis Obv DN[GRATIANVSPF]AVG | LRBC II Ly as 377 378-383 Corr Rev VOT-XV-MVLT-XX LVG[// . Arcadiu55 s Obv [DNAR]CADI[VSPFAVG] LRBCIIasRo798ff 388+ Con- Rev — 56.— Nummus Obv — LRBCIIasAql097ff 388 + Con- Rev VOT-X-MVLT-[. . . 57.— Nummus Obv — LRBCIIasLy389ff 388 + Corr Rev [VICTORIAAVGGG] 58.— Nummus Obv — LRBCIIasLy389ff 388 + Corr Rev [VICTORIAAVGGG] 59.— Nummus Obv — LRBCIIasRo796ff 388 + Corr Rev [SALVSREIPVBJLICAE The Hoard Valen. 60 s Siliqua Obv DNVALEN-ISPFAVG] | RIC IX Tr as 27b/e 364-378 W/W Rev VRBS-[ROMA] TRPS . Arcadiu61 s Siliqua Obv DN[ARCADIVSP]FAVG RIC IX as Tr 106b 388 + SW/SW Rev [VIRTVSRO]-MANORV[M] . Honoriu62 s Siliqua Obv DNHONORI-[VSPFAVG] | RIC IX Mil as 32 393 + Corr/SW Rev VIRTVSfROMANORVM] MDPS 63. Honorius? Siliqua Obv — l 32?Mi s a X I C RI 393 + Corr Rev — Uncertain Attributions 64.— Denarius 2nd century 65.— Antoninianus 3rd century 66.— Ae ?4th century 67.— Ae ?4th century 68.— Ae ?4th century 69.— Ae ?4th century certainlyNot coins 70. Corroded and illegible 71. Corrode illegibld dan e | 29PROCEEDING2 S OF THE SOCIETY, 1982

NOTES TO THE CATALOGUE The notation used throughout is as follows: . NMAa S accession number b. Date of finding . Findspoc t (when known) additionay An . d l information 1. a. 1940.380; b. 1939; c. Traprain E; d. From Cruden's excavations for the MoW. . HI-16-12a 2. . 1915b ; . F/4c ; . Frod ; lowese mth t level. . 1922-468a 3. . 1921 b ;. Thir d . M; c ;3 d level. . 111-16-13a 4. . 1915b ; . F/4c ; . Frod ; lowese mth t level. . 1940.381a 5. . 1939b ; . — c ;. Fro d ; m Cruden's excavations. Originally published (Cruden 1939 RIs a ) C Ves. p90 6. a. 111-16-14; b. 1915; c. F B/4; d. From the lowest level and originally identified as a denarius. The obverse is described in the Accession Register as IMPCAESVESPASIANAVGCOSVIHPP, head right, laureate. Upon examinatio 198n n i legen e 0 th illegibles dwa . 7. a. 1924.281; b. 1922; c. Q 2; d. From the second level. . 1924.282a 8. Fro.d thir; e m. 3 1922 th b ; d P . levelc ; . . 1929.30a 9. . 1898b ; . 'Trapraic ; n Law' . —d ; . 10. a. V-21-434; b. 1920; c. K 1; d. From the top level. 11. a. 111-16-15; b. 1915; c. F A/3; d. From the third level. 12. a. V-21-427;b. 1920; c. K 3; d. —. 13. a. V-21-429; b. 1920; c. J 2; d. —. . 1922.472a 14 . —.d .; 3 . 1921 b ; N . c ; 15. a. H-15-448; b. 1914; c. —; d. Found on the second level of 1914. 16. a. 111-16-16; b. 1915; c. F F/3; d. —. . 11-15-447a 17. . 1914 b ;B/I B . Foun. d ; c ; smal a n do l heartlowese th n hi t level. . 1940.382a 18. . 1939b ; . — c ;. Fro d ; m Cruden's excavations. 19. a. 1922.467; b. 1921; c. M 5; d.—. 20. a. V-21-432; b. 1920; c. K 1; d. —. 21. a. 1922.470; b. 1921; c. M 2; d. —. 22. a. 1928.466; b. 1919; c. H 4; d. —. 23. a. 1928.467; b. 1919; c. H 4; d.—. . HI-16-20a . . 191524 ;b F/2 F level p . . Froc ;to d ; e .mth . 1922.473a 25 . —.d .; 2 . 1921 b ; N . c ; . V-21-430a 26. . 1920b ; I . 1— d ;. c .; 27. a. V-21-438;b. 1920 ; d;3 . c—J . . 28. a. V-21-423; b. 1920; c. X 4; d. This coin is not recorded in any of the published reports. 29. a. 1924.279; b. 1922; c. Oa 2; d. —. . 111-16-21a 30. . 1915 b ;F/2 F . . Froc ;d ; highese mth t level. 31. a. V-21-433; b. 1920; c. K 1; d. —. . 1928.468a 32 . Fro.d ; eastere m3 . 1919 th b ; G . nc ; hal sectof o f . G r . 1922.469a 33. ; d.—3 . 1921b ; M . . ;c 34. a. 1928.470; b. 1919; c. H 3; d. From the western half of sector H. 35. a. —; b. —; c. Traprain Rampart'; d. Found in Dr Calender's room in 1938. . 1922.474a 36 —. .d .; 2 . 1921 b ; N . c ; 37. a. HI-16-27; b. 1915; c. F 1; d. This coin is not recorded in any of the published reports. 38. a. 1928.469; b. 1919; c. G 3; d. From the eastern half of sector G. . 1924.280a 39. . 1922b ; ; d.—. P2 c ; . 40. a. V-21-435;b. 1920; c. K l;d. —. . ffl-16-18a 41 . —d . .; . 2 1915 b ; F . c ; . 1955.229a 42. . — b ;. Outsid c ; e western entrance —. d , . 43. a. V-21-435; b. 1920; c. K 1; d. —. . 111-16-28a . . 191544 b ; . — c ;. Foun d ; d during fillin. gin 45. a. 1924.278; b. 1922; c. —; d. Found in the second level. 46. a. HI-16-23; b. 1915; c. F C/l; d. —. . V-21-431a 47. . 1920;b —I . 1 d ;. .c ; 48. a. IIM6-19; b. 1915; c. F C/2; d. —. . 1928.471a 49. . 1923 b ;—. 1 S d ; . .;c 50. a. V-21-426; b. 1920; c. K 4; d. —. . 11-15-446a 51. . Frod . 1914lowes; e b ;m B th . c ; t level. 52. a. 111-16-24; b. 1915; c. F 1; d. —. . HI-16-29a . . 191553 b ; . — c ;. Foun d ; d during fillin , probablgin y fro secone mth d level. 54. a. V-21-436 . 1920b ; ; c. K 1; d. —. . IH-16-25a 55. . 1915 b ;E/l F . —. c ;d ; . . 1924.277a 56. . 1923 b ;—. 1 S d ; . .;c 57. a. V-21-438; b. 1920; c. K 1; d. This coin is not recorded in any of the published reports. 58. a. V-21-437; b. 1920; c. K 1; d. —. 59. a. 111-16-22; b. 1915; c. F F/2; d. From the highest level. 60. a. —; b. 1919; c. —; d. Only the upper parts of the mint mark are visible. The coin has been clipped and then filed. 61. a.—;b. 1919 ;c.—; d. This coi alss noha been clipped whic resultes hha d removae inth lmine ofth t mark. Originally SEKULLA: THE ROMAN COINS FROM TRAPRAIN LAW I 293

identified as an issue in the name of Valentinian II, the clipping has left the clear remains of the lower part of the left hand capitafooa f o t l 'A' after obversee 'DNth n 'o . This identifie coie beinsth s n a issun ga Arcadiusf eo . 62. a. —; b. 1919; c. —; d. No clipping is visible. . — a . 191963b ; . . —; c . Thisais d ; havo dt swa e bee issun na f Honoriueo s when originally examined, howevere th , coin has been attacked by corrosion to such an extent that the legend has been totally eaten away - although both obvers reversd ean e type stile sar l clear. 64. a. HI-16-17; b. 1915; c. F F/3; d. —. . 111-16-26a 65. . 1915 b ;C/l F . publishe. Thie c ;d ; th sf t recorde o coi no y ds ni an reportsn di . . — a . 191466;b . . — ;c . Fro d ; highese mth t 191levele th 4f so excavations . 67. a. V-21-424; b. 1920; c. X 1; d. —. . V-21-439a 68 publishee . .Foun th b heartha f ; . 1920o 4 n b ; dI y o t note d. an c ;no , reports n di . 69. a. 1922.471; b. 1919; c. N 4?; d. Also said to have been a surface find from area H. . V-21-440a 70. . reporte 1920b ; th upo. f d — c . ;o t Thinote san d ; y nno coina sucs s an d a i t objec n t hi i ,no s i t examination appears to be made of a material resembling iron. . Thioriginall. s V-21-425d a ; 71swa 4 .r o 1 y. 1920 b ;identifie X . c ; n Alexandriaa s da n tetradrach late d th e3r f mo centur basie th whaf so n yo t evidenc n appeareoutlini n a t busta e 'bustno e b f s eo eo Th .d t whe wa ' n examined in 1980 X-Ran A . y Fluorescence analysi surface objece th th f sf o eo t beneat corrosios hit n layers gav followine eth g approximate composition (kindly supplied by the NMAS): Iron 0- 3% Coppe% 7 4 n r Ti 0- 2 % Lea % 2 d5 Comparison with analyse f otheso r Alexandrian tetradrachms indicate that thi coisa t objecf thino no s s typei t . Indeed, it is unlikely to be a Roman coin at all.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks are due to the staff of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, in particular Close-BrookJ r D CowieT d their san fo , r assistance durin visity gm s there addition .I nwoulI d lik thano et r Close-BrookkD manuscripa e r allowinse fo s o t e tr forthcoming m cophe f yo g paper on Dr Bersu's excavations at Traprain. P J Casey was kind enough to comment on a previous draf thif o t s paper remaininy An . g responsibilit e errorth e sar authore th f yo .

REFERENCES Bidwell T 197P , Legionarye 9Th Bath-house Basilicad an Forum d an t Exeter.a Exeter. Burley, E 1956 'Metalwork from Traprain Law', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 89 (1955-6), 118-226. Burnett, AM 1979 "The Whorlton Hoard' in Carson, R A G & Burnett, A M (eds), Recent Coin Hoards from Roman Britain, London, 110-17. Casey, P J 1974 "The Interpretation of Romano-British Site Finds', in Casey, P J Reece, R 1974, 37-50. Casey J 197P , 8 'Constantin Greae eth Britainn i t evidence th ,Londoe th f eo n Mint, AD 312-314'n i , Bird, J et al (eds) Collectanea Londoniensia, London, 181-93. Casey, P J & Reece, R 1974 Coins and the Archaeologist. Oxford. CaseySavage& J P , 198M , coine 0Th s fro excavatione mth t Higsa h Rocheste 185 n ri 1855d 2an , Archaeol Aeliana, 5 ser, 8 (1980), 75-87. Close-Brooks J , forthcomin Bersu'r D g s excavation t Trapraisa 1947w nLa . Cree E 192J , 3 'Accoun excavatione th f o t Traprain so durinw nSummeLa e gth f 1922'o r , Procc So Antiq Scot, 57 (1922-3), 180-225. Cree, J E 1924 'Account of the Excavations on Traprain Law during the Summer of 1923', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 58 (1923-4), 241-285. Cree, J E & Curie, A O 1922 Account of the Excavations on Traprain Law during the Summer of 1921, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 56 (1921-2), 189-260. Cruden H 193S , 9 'The Rampart f Trapraiso n Law; Excavation 1939'n si , Proc Antiqc So Scot,4 7 (1939-40), 48-59. Curie, A O 1915 'Account of the Excavations on Traprain Law in the Parish of Prestonkirk, County of Haddingto 1914'n i , Proc Antiqc So Scot, (1914-15)9 4 , 139-202. Curie, A O 1916 'Account of Excavations on Traprain Law in the Parish of Prestonkirk, County of Haddington in 1915', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 50 (1915-16), 64-144. Curie O 192 A , 0 'Repor Excavatioe th n o t Traprain no Summee inth w nLa f 191ro 9Proc, Antiq c So Scot, 54 (1919-20), 54-124. Curie, A O 1923 The Treasure of Traprain. Glasgow. | 29PROCEEDING4 S OF THE SOCIETY, 1982 Curie, A O & Cree, J E 'Account of the Excavations on Traprain Law during the Summer of 1920', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 55 (1920-21), 153-206. Henig, MKing& (edsA , ) 198 Romane Th 1 Third e Westth n i Century. Oxford. Jobey G ,197 6 'Traprain Law Summary';A Hardingn i , (ed)W ,D , Hillforts; Later Prehisoric Earth- works Britainn i Ireland.d an London. Mytum, H 1981 'Ireland and Rome; the maritime frontier', in Henig & King, 1981, 445-49. Painter, K 1977 'Beyond the Frontiers', in Kent, J P C & Painter, K, Wealth of the Roman World 300- 700. London. Ravetz, A 1964 'Fourth Century and Romano-British Site Finds', Numis Chron, 7 ser, 4 (1964), 201-31. Reece R ,197 3 'Roman Coinag Westere Britain ei th d nan n Empire', Britannia, (1973)4 , 227-252. Reece, R 1974 'Numerical Aspects of Roman Coin Hoards in Britain', in Casey & Reece, 1974,78-94. Reece, R 1981 'Coinage and Currency in the Third Century', in Henig & King, 1981, 79-88. Robertson, A S 1968 'Two Groups of Roman Asses from Northern Britain', Numis Chron, 7 ser, 8 (1968), 61-66. Robertson S 197A , 1 'Roman coins foun Scotlann di d 1961-70', Proc Antiqc So Scot, (1970-71)3 10 , 113-68. Robertson, A S 1975 "The Romans in North Britain; the coin evidence', in Temporini, H (ed), Aufsteig und Niedergang Romischenr de Welt, 11/3, Berlin, 364-426. Robertson, A S 1978 'The Circulation of Roman Coins in Northern Britain', in Carson, R A G & Kraay, C M (eds), Scripta Nummaria Romana, London, 186-216.