THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF WAREHAM. 151 



inform us that Roman coins have been found in Wareham, but 

 unfortunately give no particulars. More recent discoveries are, 

 however, of greater interest and importance. When, about 

 50 years ago, the hill at the top of North Street was lowered 

 about five or six feet, a quantity of coins of various kinds, some 

 forty in number, were discovered during the excavations and 

 dispersed. In 1895 several Wareham coins were traced with 

 satisfactory results. At the suggestion of the Rev. W. Densham, 

 the owner sent some of the coins to Mr. John Bellows, who, in 

 reply, said he recognised four of them as brass coins of the 

 Roman Emperors Tiberius, Nero, Vespasian, and Domitian. 



Not less interesting than the above are some coins discovered 

 at great depth in the cemetery, which is within the walls of 

 Wareham. i. A silver denarius of the Emperor Augustus, 

 struck in Gaul, between 29 and 27 B.C. This coin, which is in 

 an excellent state of preservation, was found at a depth of 8 feet, 

 and exhibited during the reading of this paper. 2. Two silver 

 denarii of the Emperor Constantine. 3. Two bronze coins struck 

 at Treves, A.D. 315. These coins are in Mr. Arthur S. Drew's 

 collection. In the gardens by the east wall two Roman coins 

 were unearthed. i. A third brass of Licinius the Elder. 

 2. A third brass of Claudius Gothicus. These coins, in the 

 .possession of Mr. Albert Laws, were shown with the above. 



A third brass of Constantine the Great, in good preservation, 

 was found in a broken part of the eastern rampart in June, 1896. 

 In January, 1898, a first brass coin of Antoninus Pius was 

 discovered in a garden by West Street. The head to the right 

 on the obverse is very prominent and clear. This coin is 

 interesting, because of a figure on the reverse, which, though 

 defaced, appears to be that of Britannia. The writer of " Old 

 England " asserts that it was during the reign of Antoninus Pius, 

 when there " first appeared on Roman money the graceful 

 figure of Britannia calmly resting on her shield." By the 

 letters S.C. underneath the figure, it is shown that the coin was 

 struck by decree of the Senate. This coin, also exhibited with 

 the above, is in the possession of Mr. J. B. C. fipst. In Ancient 



