360 Coventina's Fountain, by the Rev. J. C. Bruce, LL.D. 



others from this cause. All the way from top to bottom, the 

 well was crowded with coins, with crockery, bones, and deers' 

 horns. Tailford, the excavator in chief, tells me that all the 

 vessels and bottles that were whole were found lying on their 

 sides. This is an important fact. Another is worthy of obser- 

 vation ; some fragments of Samian ware that had formed parts 

 of the same vessel were found lying in different parts of the 

 well ; the vessel must have been thrown in, in a fragmentary 

 state. Some beads of the same kind (though not all of the same 

 size) were found, not together, but scattered about. The neck- 

 lace, if such it were, cannot have been thrown in whole. 



About a yard down 1 5 altars were found lying in all positions, 

 most of them inscribed ; and a little below them the sculptured 

 slab, known in the district as " the ladies " on which are carved 

 with considerable skill three water nymphs — the attendants pro- 

 bably of the chief deity of the fountain. The woodcut on the 

 opposite page shows this sculptured stone.* The upper part of a 

 human skull was found in this part of the excavation full of 

 coins. The next important discovery that was made consisted of 

 four gold coins — one of Nero, a good deal worn and a good deal 

 clipped ; one of Sabina, the wife of Hadrian ; one of Antoninus 

 Pius ; and one of Julia Domna, the wife of Septimius Severus. 

 These last three coins are in excellent preservation, and are admir- 

 able specimens of the Roman mint. 



The occurrence of four gold coins shews the richness of the 

 find. Mr Clayton has during the last quarter of a century con- 

 ducted extensive excavations in the camps and castles of the 

 Wall, but never before was so fortunate as to discover a single 

 gold coin. 



At about the same depth and near the N.E. corner of the well 

 was found a mass of clay about 1 8 inches in bulk, in which were 

 imbedded about 50 or 60 large brass coins. The clay was ex- 

 ceedingly fine and of a blue tint. It had been purposely de- 

 prived of all gravelly or sandy particles, and had a soapy feel. 

 As the coins had been protected by the clay from the action of 

 the air and water, they came out of it in an uncorroded state, 

 many of them shining like gold. Several of them were as fresh 



* This woodcut and the others used in illustration of this paper have been 

 kindly lent by John Clayton, Esq., of Chesters, the author of the papers 

 already referred to. 



