A Roman Provincial Coin Hoard From Sinope

Abstract

The hoard presented here was found in a burnt and shattered container on the upper level of the eastern wall of a large structure in Sinope, which was probably used as a residence, during rescue excavations carried out by the Sinop Archaeological Museum in 2015. The hoard consisted of 162 bronze coins, 27 of which were illegible due to their poor condition. Of the remainder, 134 were determined to be Roman colonial coins of Sinope, with 1 coin from Trapezus struck under Gordian III in AD 238. The Sinope coins range from AD 159 (Antoninus Pius) to AD 259 (joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus). The hoard is significant since it contains unpublished coin samples and was found in a fire layer. The hoard likely comes from a destruction phase that occurred in the city due to the invasions of the Goths; it might have been hidden or dropped in panic as a response to the urgent situation in AD 259 or a little afterwards. © 2021 Royal Numismatic Society. All rights reserved.