1 WICK, WALES: POKLAD 91 STŘÍBRNÝCH DENARII Z OBDOBÍ OD NERONA DO POČÁTKU VLÁDY MARKA AURÉLIA - S PŘEKVAPIVOU PŘÍTOMNOSTÍ TŘÍ DENARII, NOUZOVĚ RAŽENÝCH MARKEM ANTONIEM V ŘECKU PRO JEHO LEGIE PŘED NÁMOŘNÍ BITVOU U ACTIA Třináctého prosince roku 2014 se pětašedesátiletý psychiatr Dr. Richard Annear a třiačtyřicetiletý John Player vydali prozkoumat minohledačkou jedno pole ve Wicku, v jižním Walesu. Oba přátelé objevili poklad římských mincí, částečně roztroušených, protože hluboká orba poškodila nádobu, v níž byly zakopány. Ponechali neporušenou část v půdě a přivolali archeology. Poklad tvořilo 91 stříbrných denarii z období mezi vládou císaře Nerona (54-68 po Kr.) a císaře Marka Aurélia (161-180 po Kr.). Mince nesly obrazy celkem čtrnácti císařů a císařoven. 2 Nejmladší mince byla ražena v létech 163-164 po Kr. „Každá z těchto mincí představuje přibližně dobovou denní mzdu, tak že poklad předstauje významnou částku peněz“, říká Edward Besly, numismatik National Museum of Wales. V Monknashi, méně než dvanáct kilometrů od Wicku, byl roku 2000 objeven další poklad 103 denarii, zakopaných kolem roku 150 po Kr. (Hallan 91 denarios en un campo de Gales, v: „La túnica de Neso“, Departamento de Latín IES La Senda Quart de Poblet, blog Dominga Valleja Sanze ze 7.12. 2015, https://latunicadeneso.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/hallan-91-denarios-en-un-campo-de-gales/, přel. fjh; předkládané texty jsou nekomerčním informačním a studijním materiálem Numismatiky CB s.r.o., zaměřeným k rozšíření obzorů numismatiků a propagaci numismatiky samé. Autorská práva náleží autorům samým či svrchu uvedeným institucím, nakladatelstvím a redakcím). „Mail online“ z 26.11. 2015 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3334908/Significant-hoard-Roman-coins-discovered-Wales- Silver-money-issued-Marc-Antony-2-000-years-ago.html 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'. The hoard of 91 coins was found in Wick, Wales by two walkers. It has been declared treasure, but there is no official valuation yet. Oldest coins date back to 31 BC and were issued by general Mark Antony. Known for his relationship with Cleopatra and growth of Roman Empire. Sarah GRIFFITHS. A hoard of silver coins, some of which were issued by Roman general Mark Antony, have been discovered in a Welsh field more than 2,000 years after they were buried. While they have yet to be valued, the 91 coins have been hailed by history experts as 'a significant find' and could be worth 'tens of thousands of pounds.' The coins were issued by Roman rulers spanning 200 years, with the earliest dating back to when Mark Antony was general in 31BC, through to the rule of Emperor Nero between 54 and 68AD and Marcus Aurelius, who headed the Empire from 161AD to 180AD. They were unearthed by two friends out walking in a field near the small village of Wick in South Wales and during the Roman era each coin would have been the equivalent to a day's pay. Three of the coins date from 31BC when they were issued by Roman general Mark Antony, who was a key ally of Emperor Julius Caesar and played a pivotal role in the growth of the Roman Empire. 3 Some of the coins were struck during the reign of Emperor Nero, who reigned between 54 and 68 AD. The 'newest' coins among the hoard bear the image of Marcus Aurelius, who, between 161AD to 180AD, led successful military campaigns and also wrote a philosophical book about conflict, which is still revered today. It is not known how, or when, they were brought to the region, but it's possible they may have been carried by a Roman soldier or exchanged by a trader as the currency became accepted in Britain. In August 55 BC Emperor Julius Caesar invaded Britain with two Roman legions but later withdrew to Gaul. A year later he returned with 30,000 soldiers. It is thought some of these coins may have been brought over during these campaigns as his army battled against tribes across the country. Caesar wasn't able to conquer, however, due to revolts in Gaul. In 43 AD Emperor Claudius resumed the work of Caesar by ordering the invasion of Britain under the command of Aulus Plautius. The Romans then established control over the tribes in the south east and spread throughout the country, again bringing more coins with them. Their occupation is said to have lasted until 410AD, throughout the reigns of Nero and Aurelius. Experts have found Roman coins in Britain from the Celtic times, before the conquest by the emperor Claudius and following the occupation, Roman coins were used for some 250 years before Britain had its own mint. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Richard Annear, 65 and John Player, 43, came across the small pot containing the money, including three particularly old silver denarii. They reported it to curators who were able to remove a chunk of soil containing the delicate find safely. It is not known how many coins were minted during the reigns of different Roman rulers, because while many were struck in Rome, provincial cities were also allowed to mint their own coins. Mints were typically run by a magistrate or government representative and each coin was crafted by an artisan, according to University of California academics. The design was carved on an apparatus called a 'die', while the metal of 'flan' for a coin would be measured and heated. The die was then be hit with a hammer to imprint the image on the coin, which explains why some of the faces on the coins are off-centre. The rare hoard was discovered within a mile of another historic find of 130 denarii unearthed 15 years ago. 4 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.' A numismatist has said the denarii may be 'worth tens of thousands of pounds'. Senior Coroner Andrew Barkley ruled that the coins are 'treasure trove' at Cardiff Coroner's Court. The items will now be taken to the Treasure Valuation Committee, in London, where they will be independently valued. Mark Antony engaged in a passionate affair with queen of Egypt, Cleopatra after leaving his wife in Rome. Their romance was made famous by Shakespeare's 1602 play and later immortalised in the 1963 Hollywood film Antony and Cleopatra, staring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. But the pair's romance was short-lived and they allegedly both took their own lives after Antony lost the crucial Battle of Actium to Augustus - Rome's first emperor. CHRONOLOGY OF THE COINS AND THEIR ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN It is not known how, or when, the coins were brought to the region, but it's possible they may have been carried by a Roman soldier or exchanged by a trader as the currency became accepted in Britain. The coins in the haul pre-date Roman occupation of Britain and span 200 years of history. In August 55 BC, Emperor Julius Caesar invaded Britain with two Roman legions. A year later he returned with 30,000 soldiers. It is thought some coins may have been brought over during these campaigns as his army battled against tribes across the country. Caesar wasn't able to conquer, however, due to revolts in Gaul. Three of the coins date from 31 BC when they were issued by Roman general Mark Antony who lived between 14 January 83 BC and 1 August 30 BC. He was a key ally of Emperor Julius Caesar and played a pivotal role in the growth of the Roman Empire. In 43 AD Emperor Claudius resumed the work of Caesar by ordering the invasion of Britain under the command of Aulus Plautius. More coins would surely have circulated during occupation and were used for some 250 years before Britain had its own mint. Some of the coins date from the rule of Emperor Nero, between 54 and 68AD. While Nero focused on enhancing cultural life in the Empire, he is known for being cruel 5 and corrupt, having executed his mother and possibly murdered his brother. The most recent coins among the hoard were issued by Marcus Aurelius, who ruled from 161AD to 180AD. He was a great military leader and during his reign the Empire defeated a revitalised Parthian Empire in the east as well as winning other territories. Marcus Aurelius was also a scholar and his literary work 'Meditations' is still revered as a monument to the philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find composure and remain calm in the midst of conflict. Roman occupation is said to have lasted until 410AD, throughout the reigns of these later emperors. Experts have found Roman coins in Britain from the Celtic times, before the conquest by Emperor Claudius, and following the occupation, Roman coins were used for some 250 years before Britain had its own mint. 6 poklad, vyzvednutý z půdy 7 zbytky nádoby, v níž byly mince zakopány, poškozené orbou denarii 8 nejmladší denarius císaře Marka Aurélia 9 nejzajímavější jsou tři nejstarší stříbrné mince, vymykající se celkové skladbě nálezu, které „Mail online“ popsal povrchním způsobem jako „Three of the coins (pictured) date from 31BC when they were issued by Roman general Mark Antony, who was a key ally of Julius Caesar and played a pivotal role in the Roman Empire“ 10 ve skutečnosti jde o stříbrné denarii, které v závěrečné fázi občanské války razil Marcus Antonius v Řecku v létech 32-31 př.