Glossary

Unique code for the site or fieldwork project.

Unique number for each coin in an assemblage. Most commonly the registration number allocated on site to archaeological artefacts that are recorded individually (usually made of metal, glass, or worked bone and stone), including coins. Artefacts in this category are variously referred to as Registered Finds (RF), Registered Artefacts (RA) and Small Finds (SF).

RFs often require special treatment, including conservation and/or individual protective packaging, or are subject to decay or disintegration and thus require specific storage environments (eg low humidity for metalwork).

Number denoting the context from which the coin was recovered.

Context numbers are allocated on site to excavated deposits or archaeological features (eg, layers and fills of negative features such as ditches and pits).

Broad date of the coin’s production, defined in the template and available in a dropdown list. Can be

• a specific year. For example:
  • 81 for a coin of Domitian struck during the emperor’s 7th consulship
• an emperor’s reign:
  • 81-96 for a coin of Domitian that cannot be more closely dated
• a dynastic date:
  • 69-96 for a coin struck for a Flavian emperor (Vespasian, Titus or Domitian), or 364–392 for a coin issued by the House of Valentinian (Valentinian I, Gratian or Valentinian II).
• Issue Period for 4th-century reverse types:
  • 364-378 for a coin of the SECVRITAS REIPVLICAE type
• general date:
  • Uncertain (1st–2nd century) for early coins that cannot be identified to an emperor or dynasty, or Uncertain (late 3rd–4th century) for bronzes that could be radiates or post-Diocletianic ‘nummi’

The earliest date the coin could have been struck, defined in the template and available in a dropdown list. For example:

• 81 for a coin of Domitian struck during the emperor’s 7th consulship
• 81 for a coin of Domitian that cannot be more closely identified
• 69 for a coin struck for a Flavian emperor
• 364 for a coin of the reverse type SECVRITAS REIPVLICAE
• 260 for a bronze coin that could be a later-3rd-century radiate or post-Diocletianic ‘nummus’

Dates BC are indicated with a minus sign (-) before the date (eg, -32 for a legionary denarius for Mark Antony).

The latest date the coin could have been struck, defined in the template and available in a dropdown list. For example:

• 81 for a coin of Domitian struck during the emperor’s 7th consulship (ie, same as the ‘date from’ entry)
• 96 for a coin of Domitian that cannot be more closely identified
• 96 for a coin struck for a Flavian emperor
• 378 for a coin with the reverse type SECVRITAS REIPVLICAE that cannot be more closely identified
• 402 for a bronze coin that could be a later-3rd-century radiate or post-Diocletianic ‘nummus’

Dates BC are indicated with a minus sign (-) before the date (eg, -31 for a legionary denarius for Mark Antony).

Roman Coinage Issue Periods (abbreviated to Issue Periods – IP). Defined in the template and available in a dropdown list.

Standard sequence of 22 Issue Periods representing the production of Roman coins from Augustus to the beginning of the 5th century.

(Also known as ‘Reece Periods’, ‘Reece Coin Periods’, ‘Coin Periods’, ‘Numismatic Issue Periods’, or just ‘Periods’).

Denomination of the coin when known (eg, Sestertius, Radiate, or Siliqua). Available from a dropdown list.

Alternatives that can be used when the denomination cannot be determined include

• Uncertain Gold – gold coins of uncertain denomination
• Uncertain Silver – silver coins of uncertain denomination
• Dupondius/As – for 1st- and 2nd-century large bronzes that could be dupondii or ases
• AE1 – bronze coin of any period with a diameter greater than 25mm
• AE2 – bronze coin of any period with a 19–25mm diameter
• AE3 – bronze coin of any period with a 14–18mm diameter
• AE4 – bronze coin of any period with a 5–14mm diameter
• AE4 minim – bronze coin of any period with a diameter less than 5mm

Copy, if the coin is identified as an imitation (copy or forgery), otherwise leave blank.

Authority responsible for issuing the coin. Available from a dropdown list. Can be:

• an emperor, such as ANTONINUS PIUS
• an empress, such as FAUSTINA I
• a prince, such as MARCUS AURELIUS Caesar (Antoninus Pius)
• a dynasty, such as Uncertain (Antonine).

In instances where the individual ruler cannot be identified from the legend or obverse bust, or the reverse type, entries can include options such as:

• Uncertain (Flavian)
• Uncertain (1st/2nd century)
• Uncertain (Radiate)
• Uncertain (late 3rd/4th century)

Reverse type of the coin. Usually referred to using standardised numismatic types or reverse legends, such as

• Minerva type
• SALVS AVG
• FEL TEMP REPARATIO – falling horseman

Also can be non-standard entries for very worn or corroded coins (for example, ‘Female figure standing facing with left arm raised’), or ‘Uncertain’ or ‘Illegible’.

Details of any mint mark. Follows British Museum method of recording mint marks, which is explained in the series Coin Hoards from Roman Britain:

• 'The following convention is used to denote the marks used on the reverses: - -//-, where the first - refers to the left field, the second to the right field and the third, after the //, to the exergue. Marks in the centre field are indicated as follows: A//XXI, and where marks in the field are on more than one level they are shown as follows: R - /A F//BSISC.'

Mint where coin was struck (if known). Available from a dropdown list.

Reference to a standard numismatic catalogue, where identification is possible.

Used to indicate unusual treatment or condition of the coin, such as if pierced, cut, clipped or countermarked.

Obverse legend of the coin (preferably as catalogued if fully identifiable):

ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TRP COS III, rather than

ANTONINVS AVG PIV-S PP TRP COS III, or

ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP [TRP COS III].

Reverse legend of the coin (preferably as catalogued if fully identifiable):

SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE, rather than

SECVRITAS REI-PVBLICAE, or

SECVRI[TAS REIPVBLICAE].

Maximum diameter of the coin (recorded in millimetres).

The project’s archaeological numismatist will decide which coins, if any, should be measured. Likely to include coins where it has been shown that their diameters reveal information about them (eg, Claudian copies and siliquae).

Weight of the coin (recorded in grammes).

The project’s archaeological numismatist will decide which coins, if any, should be weighed. Likely to include coins where it has been shown that their weights reveal information about them (eg, Claudian copies and siliquae).

Records the level of wear of the coin.

Various schemes are available.

It is misleading to attempt to record the wear of corroded coins.

Alignment of the obverse and reverse dies.