- by foxnews
- 19 Apr 2026
What may have been a Roman soldier's monthly paycheck has emerged from under the ground, officials announced this month.
The hoard consists of 25 silver denarii in total, equal to the monthly salary of a Roman legionary - or citizen soldier.
The numismatist said the cache was found by a lucky metal detectorist, who handed it over to local authorities.
The coins were spread throughout the field due to farming activity over the centuries, said Marsden.
"We've had a few hoards like this over the years, scattered by the plow and often of a similar size," he said.
"The latest coins [in the hoard] show very little wear and cannot have seen much circulation before the hoard's deposition," Marsden added.
Seven of the denarii depict Emperor Hadrian, while others show the profiles of Emperor Vespasian and Trajan.
Two coins feature Marcus Aurelius - one during his time as Caesar, another as emperor.
Another artifact was a Judaea Capta coin, minted to commemorate Rome's capture of Judaea and destruction of the Second Jewish Temple.
Though an exciting discovery, Marsden noted it's not unusual for the area.
"There are plenty of Roman discoveries in the area, including the occasional small hoard," he said.
"This was a wealthy agricultural area in the Roman period."
After nearly four centuries, the Romans began withdrawing in 410 A.D. - but not without leaving remnants behind that are still found today in the U.K.
Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton contributed reporting.
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