Taynton Metal Detecting Club
The Gannets

Introduction to Coins

Hammered and Milled

Old coins are classified as 'hammered' or 'milled'. Hammered coins were made by hand striking a die with a hammer. Milled coins were made by machine. The first type of coin machine was the 'mill and screw press', and the term 'milled' has stuck for all machine made coins.

Celtic Coins

Celtic coins are very rare and their denominations are not known. They were only produced in the hundred years before the Roman invasion. The Taynton area belonged to the Dobunni tribe and the club has found several of their coins.

Roman Coins

During the period Britain was part of the Roman Empire three different denominations of coin were in use

20 BC to AD 214. Name Value Metal As base unit copper Dupondius 2 Asses copper Sestertius 2 Dupondii bronze Denarius 4 Sestertii silver Aureus 25 Denarii gold

AD 215 to AD 294. Name Value Metal Radiate unknown copper & silver alloy Aureus unknown gold

AD 295 onwards. Name Value Metal Nummi unknown copper alloy Siliqua unknown silver Solidus 24 Siliquae gold

Saxon Coins

Medieval Coins

At the start of the medieval period the Normans adopted the existing Saxon mints with the penny remaining the only coin. The penny was made with a cross on its back to facilitate the coin being cut into halves or quarters to make half-pennies and farthings. Farthing means 'a fourth part' in old English.

Medieval Penny, Half-Penny and Farthing (Fourth-Penny). Found by club member Mark Powles.

Later in the period higher denomination coins arrived, including the groat and the noble.