New Roman coin find adds to thousands of significant artefacts uncovered at Carlisle cricket club site

The coin features Emperor Hadrian, who reigned from AD 117 to 138 and ordered the construction of the nearby Hadrian's Wall.

A metal detectorist has found one of the most important coins yet uncovered by the Uncovering Roman Carlisle project.

Dan Bell, from Carlisle, made the discovery while searching the cricket club site in the city.

The coin, part of the project, features Emperor Hadrian, who ordered the construction of the nearby Hadrian's Wall.

The reverse side depicts Fortuna, the Roman goddess of chance, fate, and fortune.

Dan, who has been metal detecting for four years and involved in the archaeological dig site for the past two years, said: "I just thought it was your average Roman coin.

"They've found many in better condition, but because of what is on it, it's special.

"Frank (Wardell), who organises the digs, thinks it’s the best one we’ve found so far."

Despite finding numerous medieval coins from the reigns of Edward I, Elizabeth I, and Charles I, Roman coins have been much rarer in his collection.

"The only Roman ones have been at the bathhouse," Dan added.

One commenter on social media indicated the coin was a 'sestertius', adding that four of these were equal to a day's pay for a Roman soldier.

The coin adds to more than 4,000 significant finds at the site, including more than 700 Roman coins, painted wall plaster, military artefacts like arrowheads and spear tips, over 400 hairpins, imperial stamped tiles, North African-style roof tubes, glass beads, gaming pieces, and a rare Roman doll’s foot.

It follows on the back of another carved stone Roman head believed to be a woman due to the hairstyle, which is reminiscent of the style worn by Empress Julia Domna, in September - adding to the 'previous two monumental heads discovered at the site in 2023'.

“The dig is finished today, I’ve just been going over the soil today after it's being filled in – I haven't found anything yet but I did find three coins yesterday (October 22) but that was the best of the day," Dan added.

Uncovering Roman Carlisle has so far won four awards and featured on the most recent series of Digging for Britain with Dr Alice Roberts. It is also set to be showcased in the 2024 series of Great Railway Journeys.

As the excavation gets filled in, The Diggers group will be seeking funding ahead of 2025 to continue work at the cricket club.

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