Page 30 - Real Rochdale Issue 23 August 2024
P. 30
Remarkable 2000-year-old Roman coins found in
Littleborough field will stay in the borough
A rare collection of Roman coins discovered in Roman rule, their discovery raises more
in a field in Littleborough has been acquired questions than answers. Historians,
for Touchstone’s Rochdale borough cultural archaeologists, and the public are left to
heritage collection. ponder the mystery behind their burial in
Littleborough.
The remarkable coins, unearthed in 2020
by two metal detectorists, were buried just When the coins go on display, these
seven inches below the surface. A total of intriguing questions will invite visitors to use
376 coins were discovered, dating back their imaginations to fill in the blanks and
nearly 2,000 years, spanning over 120 years piece together the story of the hoard.
of Roman history, and serves as a testament
to the presence of Roman activity in the Leanne Manfredi, National Programmes
area. Lead, Victoria and Albert Museum said: “The
Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant
Thanks to generous support from Arts Fund supports the purchase of a wide range
Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund of material for the permanent collections
and the Pennines Township, Rochdale of non-nationally funded organisations in
Borough Council, the hoard will remain England and Wales.
in the local area. It has been acquired for
Touchstone’s Rochdale borough cultural “We are delighted that this Roman coin
heritage collection. hoard has been acquired by Rochdale Arts
and Heritage Service via the British
While the coins are a significant part of local Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. It
history, highlighting the continuous changes will benefit audiences for years to come.”
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