Killingholme

Killingholme Hoard - North Lincolnshire, England

The hoard was discovered by metal detectorists in 1993 near the village of Killingholme, situated on the south bank of the Humber estuary, near to the modern Immingham docks in the United Kingdom. The find consisted of approximately 3700 Constantinian bronze reduced folles (AE3s), mainly from mints in the Western empire and predominately struck in the 320's and early 330's. It is likely that the hoard was deposited c. 333-334. Note - exceptionally important coins from this hoard are highlighted in green and deserve further research.

For a map and more information, click here for Antony Wilson of York Coins' page on the hoard

Update on August 4, 2008 from Dr. Roger Bland, head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in the UK: "The Killingholme hoard was a hoard of 4th-century Roman bronzes found
before the Treasure Act and Jonathan Williams was only able to record the coins in batches courtesy of Spinks." Personally, I was hoping to be able to get a copy of a report detailing all of the contents of the hoard, since there are so many anomalies within the small sample of examples I've seen. The other difficulty about ever getting any worthwhile information is the rumor the bulk of the coins were sold to the jewelry designer Bvlgari to be consumed within the jewelry trade. If this is true, I do know know if Bvlgari will include the provenance with the coins used or if the buyers will simply be told the coins are ancient Roman bronzes. Either way, the likelylihood is extremely high for unique coins from this hoard will be lost to study and never be identified, even if coins are discovered within jewelry.

Arles (Arelatum) / Constantina Mint
	Constantine I, AE3, 321, Arles, Officina 1 CONSTAN_TINVS AVG Laureate head right D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG Legend surrounding wreath, terminating with rosette and pellet, enclosing VOT / . / XX PA in exergue 20mm x 21mm, 3.56g RIC VII, 228 (C1) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Crispus, AE3, 321, Arles, Officina 3 CRISPVS-NOB CAES Laureate head right CAESARVM NOSTRORVM Legend surrounding wreath, terminating with rosette and pellet, enclosing VOT / . / V T A in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 2.97g RIC VII, 230 (C1) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Crispus, AE3, 321, Arles, Officina 3 CRISPVS-NOB CAES Laureate head right CAESARVM NOSTRORVM Legend surrounding wreath, terminating with rosette and pellet, enclosing VOT / . / V T crescent A in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 3.01g RIC VII, 235 (C2) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine I, AE3, 322-323, Arles, Officina 1 CONSTAN_TINVS AVG Laureate head right D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG Legend surrounding wreath, terminating with rosette and pellet, enclosing VOT / . / XX P*AR in exergue 19mm x 21mm, 3.03g RIC VII, 252 (C2) Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: The reverse on this example has been overstruck on another coin of undetermined type
	Constantine I, AE3, 322-323, Arles, Officina 2 CONSTAN_TINVS AVG Laureate head right D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG Legend surrounding wreath, terminating with rosette and pellet, enclosing VOT / . / XX S*AR in exergue 19mm x 20mm, 3.14g RIC VII, 252 (C2) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine I, AE3, 322-323, Arles, Officina 2 CONSTAN_TINVS AVG Laureate head right N (sic) CONSTANTINI MAX AVG Legend surrounding wreath, terminating with rosette and pellet, enclosing VOT / . / XX S*AR in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 2.77g RIC VII, 252 variant Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: The reverse legend is misspelled - the D is missing from D(ominor) N(ostror). Also, the lettering style is just a touch crude, suggesting this is an imitative piece of good style, of which there were numerous in the Killingholme Hoard.
	Constantine I, AE3, 331, Constantina, Officina 1 CONSTANTI_NVS MAX AVG Rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right GLOR_IA EXERC_ITVS Two soldiers, standing facing, looking at each other, transverse spear in outer hand, inner hand resting on shield set on ground, two standards between with pellet inscribed on banners, pellet between banners Crescent in lower middle field PCONST in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 2.55g RIC VII, 353 (R4) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine II, AE3, c.324-325, Arelatum, Officina 3 CONSTANTINTS (sic) IVN NOB C Laureate head right PROVIDEN_TIAE CAESS Campgate with five rows, two turrets, no doors, star above, top and bottom rows empty blocks TAP in exergue 18mm x 20mm, 3.59g RIC VII, -- Ex York Coins, Vcoins, October 2006; Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: Same as RIC VII, 273 with different bust type. The obverse legend is misspelled - should be CONSTANTINVS. Also, the exergue mark is incorrect - should be TAR and appears to be a deliberate P and not just a mis-struck R.
	Constantine II, AE3, c.329, Constantina, Officina 3 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, cuirassed bust left VIRTV_S AVGG Campgate with six rows, four turrets, no doors, star above, top row arches and dots in blocks, bottom row empty blocks T \| F across fields PCONST in exergue ?mm, 3.04g RIC VII, -- Ex York Coins, Vcoins, October 2006; Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: Mule of Constantine II obverse of RIC VII, 338 and Constantine I reverse of RIC VII, 336 or 337.
Lyons (Lugdunum) Mint
	Constantine I, AE3, 321, Lyons, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Laureate, cuirassed bust right BEATA TRANQVILLITAS Globe set on altar inscribed VO / TIS / XX, three stars above C \| R across fields PLG in exergue 19mm x 20mm, 3.67g RIC VII, 126 (R1) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine I, AE3, 321, Lyons, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Laureate, cuirassed bust right BEATA TRANQVILLITAS Globe set on altar inscribed V . O / TIS / XX, three stars above C \| R across fields PLG in exergue 19mm x 20mm, 3.04g RIC VII, 126v (R1) Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: Variant for reverse attribute - pellet in altar inscription not noted in RIC
	Crispus, AE3, 321, Lyons, Officina 1 CRISPVS-NOB CAES Laureate, cuirassed bust right BEATA TRANQVILLITAS Globe set on altar inscribed VO / TIS / XX, three stars above C \| R across fields PLG in exergue 19mm x 20mm, 3.39g RIC VII, 133 (C1) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine II, AE3, 322-323, Lyons, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS IVN N C Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind BEATA TRAN_QVILLITAS Globe set on altar inscribed V . O / TIS / XX, three stars above C \| R across fields PLG in exergue 19mm x 20mm, 3.41g RIC VII, 188v (R3) Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: Variant for reverse attribute - pellet in altar inscription not noted in RIC
	Constantine II, AE3, 323-324, Lyons, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust left CAESARVM NOSTRORVM Legend surrounding wreath enclosing VOT / . X . PLGC in exergue 19mm x 20mm, 2.57g RIC VII, 221 (R2) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine II, AE3, 323-324, Lyons, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust left CAESARVM NOSTRORVM Legend surrounding wreath enclosing VOT / . / . X . . PLGC . in exergue 18mm x 20mm, 2.65g RIC VII, 224 (R5) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine II, AE3, 323-324, Lyons, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust left CAESARVM NOSTRORVM Legend surrounding wreath enclosing VOT / . / . X . . PLGC . in exergue 17mm x 19mm, 3.13g RIC VII, 224 (R5) Ex Killingholme Hoard
Siscia Mint
	Crispus, AE3, 321-324, Siscia, Officina 1 IVL CRIS_PVS NOB C Laureate head right CAESARVM NOSTRORVM Legend surrounding laurel wreath terminating in large jewel, enclosing VOT / . / X ASIS palm in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 3.60g RIC VII, 175 (R3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
Ticinum Mint
	Constantine II, AE3, 320-321, Ticinum, Officina 3 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right DOMINOR . NOSTROR . CAESS Legend surrounding wreath, terminating in rosette with pellet, enclosing VOT / . / X TT in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 3.17g RIC VII, 162 (S) Ex Killingholme Hoard
Photo courtesy of York Coins (coin unfortunately not in my collection)	Constantine II, AE3, c.326, Ticinum, Officina 3 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust left VIRTV_S AVSS Campgate with six rows, two turrets, open doors with pellet pattern, star above, top row arches with pellets between, ramp with stairs at base with pellet pattern T crescent T in exergue 2.95g RIC VII, -- Ex York Coins, VCoins, October 2006; Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: In the footnotes to RIC VII 198, there is mention of an example in the British Museum with obverse CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, bust type B5 and reverse VIRTVS-CAESS, four turrets, no star, open doors, T crescent T in exergue. The coin is apparently a companion to that series. Looking further, there is a footnote on p.269 under coins from the mint in Constantina (Arles) for a Constantine I campgate in Munich Staatliche Munzsammlung with PCONST exergue and reverse legend VIRTVS AVSS.
	Constantine I, AE3, c.326, Ticinum, Officina 3 CONSTAN_TINVS AG Laureate head right CONSTANTINI MAX AG Legend surrounding wreath, terminating in large jewel, enclosing VOT / . / XX T crescent T in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 2.10g RIC VII, -- Ex York Coins, VCoins, October 2006; Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: Unless this coin is an imitative type of exceptionally good style, it is extremely irregular. Although the obverse and reverse legends match with respect to the use of AG vs. AVG, the shorter version is not attested in RIC in use at the Ticinum mint for any issues, although AG is a regular legend ending from the London mint and in fact may have been engraved at the London mint and transferred to Ticinum where the mint mark was then added. The style of the portrait and the rendering of the laurel ties across the neck with the position of the bend is typical of London. Also, the reverse legend is expected to be D N CONSTANTINI MAX AVG, so further research it required to explain this coin as this reverse legend is not attested in RIC for any issues in any denomination at any mint.
Trier (Treveri) Mint
	Crispus, AE3, 322, Trier, Officina 2 IVL CRISPVS NOB CAES Laureate, cuirassed bust left, spear pointing in right hand over shoulder, shield in left BEATA TRAN_QVILLITAS Altar inscribed VOT / IS / XX, surmounted by globe, *** above STR . in exergue 19mm x 21mm, 3.24g RIC VII, 347 (C2) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine I, AE3, 322-323, Trier, Officina 1 CONSTAN_TINVS AVG Laureate bust right, wearing trabea, eagle-tipped scepter in right hand BEATA TRAN_QVILLITAS Globe set on altar inscribed VO . / TIS / XX, three stars above . PTR . in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 2.81g RIC VII, 369 (C3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine I, AE3, 323-324, Trier, Officina 1 CONSTAN_TINVS AVG Laureate head right SARMATIA-DEVICTA Victory advancing right, palm in left hand, trophy over shoulder in right, bound and seated captive at right looking up at Victory PTR crescent in exergue 18mm x 20mm, 3.31g RIC VII, 435 (C3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine II, AE3, 332-333, Trier, Officina 2 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C Laureate, cuirassed bust right GLOR_IA EXERC_ITVS Two soldiers standing facing each other, spear in outer hand, inner hand resting on shield, two standards without banners between them TR . S in exergue 17mm x 19mm, 2.05g RIC VII, 539 (C3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantius II, AE3, 332-333, Trier, Officina 1 FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C Laureate, cuirassed bust right GLOR_IA EXERC_ITVS Two soldiers standing facing each other, spear in outer hand, inner hand resting on shield, two standards without banners between them, pellet between standards TR . P in exergue 16mm x 18mm, 2.45g RIC VII, 540 (C3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantius II, AE3, 332-333, Trier, Officina 1 FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C Laureate, cuirassed bust right GLOR_IA EXERC_ITVS Two soldiers standing facing each other, spear in outer hand, inner hand resting on shield, two standards without banners between them, two pellets between standards TR . P in exergue 18mm x 19mm, 2.73g RIC VII, 540 (C3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantius II, AE3, 332-333, Trier, Officina 2 FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C Laureate, cuirassed bust right GLOR_IA EXERC_ITVS Two soldiers standing facing each other, spear in outer hand, inner hand resting on shield, two standards without banners between them TR . S in exergue 17mm x 18mm, 2.99g RIC VII, 540 (C3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantius II, AE3, 332-333, Trier, Officina 2 FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C Laureate, cuirassed bust right GLOR_IA EXERC_ITVS Two soldiers standing facing each other, spear in outer hand, inner hand resting on shield, two standards without banners between them, pellet between standards TR . S in exergue 16mm x 17mm, 2.61g RIC VII, 540 (C3) Ex Killingholme Hoard
	Constantine II, AE3, c.324-325, Trier, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C C Laureate head right PROVIDEN_TIAE CAESS Campgate with six rows, two turrets, no doors, star above, top and bottom rows empty blocks PTR in exergue 3.31g RIC VII, -- Ex York Coins, VCoins, October 2006; Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: The obverse legend is not attested in RIC and the style and thickness of the lettering, along with the unusual size of the head as compared to the neck, suggests an imitative issue. Also, the bust type is not attested in RIC for the PTR series for Constantine II.
	Constantine II, AE3, c.327-328, Trier, Officina 1 CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB [C] Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right PROVIDEN_TIAE AVGG Campgate with six rows, two turrets, no doors, star above, top and bottom rows empty blocks PTRE in exergue 2.43g RIC VII, -- Ex York Coins, VCoins, October 2006; Ex Killingholme Hoard Note: Mule of Constantine II obverse with Constantine I reverse. Although the reverse would be proper for RIC VII, 504 for Constantine I, the obverse for Constantine II from 327-328 should be a left-facing bust type. Also, the C at the end of the obverse legend is either missing, or extremely thin and ended up part of the drapery.