PAS Finds

PAS Finds (w/e 17/03/23) – Eugenius

PAS Finds (w/e 17/03/23) – Eugenius

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ended 17 March 2023

Featured Find

Siliqua of Eugenius

Photo: Surrey County Council CC By SA2.0
Period: Roman
Date found: 16/03/2023
Location: Guildford, Surrey

A siliqua of Eugenius with the mint mark of LVGPS giving the mint as Lugdunum (Lyon). The PAS record says that this is only the second example of a a coin of Eugenius in Surrey and the first of its type. Therefore, it is a Find of Note of County Importance.

Vale of Pewsey Hoard

The Vale of Pewsey Hoard, which was found some 70 miles to the west, contained 15 siliqua of Eugenius.

Vale of Pewsey hoard
Vale of Pewsey Hoard

It was found by detectorists Rob Abbot, Dave Allen and Mick Rae in September 2020 and we covered the find and subsequent auction in our reports Noonans to sell the Vale of Pewsey Hoard and Vale of Pewsey Hoard sells for £81,160.

Amongst the 160 coins found in the hoard were siliqua of Valentian II, Theodosius I and Honorius. These three will feature in the rise and fall of Eugenius.

Eugneius

As Shakespeare said, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them“. Eugenius was the latter. He was originally a teacher of rhetoric and grammar who had become a senior civil servant. At Lyon, on 22 August 392 he was proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. He was to be Emperor for two years.

He had been placed in the role by Arbogast, the military commander of the region. He had become the de facto ruler under the previous Emperor of the West, Valentinian II, who he treated with contempt. On 15 May 392, Valentinian was found hanged, either murdered by Arbogast or committed suicide, fed up with the abuse he received. Arbogast wasn’t an acceptable candidate for Emperor because of his Frankish origin and so he thrust Eugenius into the role.

At the time, the Eastern Roman Empire was ruled by Theodosius I (also called Theodosius the Great), the brother in law of Valentinian. Arbogast sought his approval for the appointment of Eugenius but only received vague promises. In January 393, Theodosius promoted his eight year-old son, Honorius, to be Emperor of the West. This provoked war and the two armies met at the Battle of Frigidus in September 394. In a way it was a victory for Theodosius as Eugenius was captured and executed and Arbogast committed suicide. However, the two day battle was so bloody and the losses on both sides so great that it accelerated the collapse of the Roman army in the West. Theodosius died four months later.

Selection of other finds

Photo: Durham County Council CC By SA2.0

Roman dragonesque brooch

A Roman dragonesque brooch dating to AD 50 – 200. These type of brooches are usually found in the north of Britain. This one is unusual because of its black patina, suggesting a different kind of surface treatment. Only one other similar brooch has been recorded and it is a Find of Note of Regional Importance.
Photo: Durham County Council CC By SA2.0

Viking weight or gaming piece

A piece of lead which has been inset with a decorated section of copper alloy. The distribution of similar objects suggests that they were manufactured in Danelaw areas and this is dated to AD 850 – 1000. The PAS record notes “It was usual for weights like this to have offcuts of some pretty but not valuable metalwork set in them”. This knot-work motif is unusual and may have an Irish connection. A Find of Note of Regional Importance.
Share
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments