i$2 THE ROMAN OCCUPATION OF WAREHAM. 



Dorset, Mr. Warne, writing of Wareham, says : " With the 

 exception of a first brass coin of Antoninus Pius, not a Roman 

 vestige of any kind has ever been discovered, in or near the town, 

 within the memory of the oldest inhabitant." This he seems to 

 have regarded as conclusive evidence that Wareham was not the 

 true site of Moriconium, and for contradicting Baxter and 

 Stukeley, by whom Wareham is called Morini. Mr. Baxter, 

 with whom Dr. Stukeley concurs, will have it to be the 

 Moriconium of Ravennas. 



Five Roman coins, defaced, shown in the photograph of my 

 own collection of Roman relics, were found during some 

 excavations in gardens. No description can be given, as they are 

 unfortunately lost. In the gardens known as Cock Pits, adjoin- 

 ing the conjectured amphitheatre at the north-west angle of the 

 walls, many Roman coins, both silver and bronze, have been 

 unearthed. * 



Other interesting coins have been discovered in the town and 

 neighbourhood, though the actual sites cannot be ascertained. 

 Among them i. A silver denarius of the Emperor Trajan. 

 Obverse bust laureated to right. Legend, IMP. CAES. NER. 

 TRAIANO OPTIMO PRiNC. GBR. DAG. Reverse soldier helmeted 

 with spear on the fasces. 2. A silver denarius of the Emperor 

 Trajan, which represents a different coinage. Obverse IMP. 



CAES. NER. TRAIANO OPTIMO AUG. GER. DAC. Bust laureated 



to right. Reverse Fortune seated with cornucopia on a helm. 

 PM. TR.P. cosvi P.P. S.P.Q.R. beneath Fortuna.f One of these 

 coins was found at Trigon. 3. Silver denarius of the Emperor 

 Hadrian. 4. Third brass of the Emperor Aurelian. Bust to 

 right. Legend, IMP. c. AURELIAN us. AUG. These coins are 

 in the possession of Mrs. F. Marshallsay. 5. Third bronze of 



* NOTE. The finder of these coins, a gardener, declared that he had found in 

 the gardens of Wareham above 50 Roman coins of various kinds. He was a 

 diligent searcher, because he could always dispose of the Roman coins to 

 advantage. 



t NOTE. These legends were copied from a description, lent with the coins of 

 the Emperor Trajan, by the owner. 



