around the hoard pit, suggesting that the hoard was buried around the mid 4th century, nearly a hundred years later than the date of the latest coins in the pot. After the coins had been removed and separated from the soil, they were dried. Then on 15 July the coins, which weighed 11 kg, were taken to the British Museum in London for conservation and identification. Items discovered The hoard comprises 3,874 base silver radiate coins, covering the reigns of ten emperors of the central Roman Empire and the reigns of six emperors of the breakaway Gallic Empire over a range of 38 years, from 244 to 282. The coins were discovered in a clay pot of Severn Valley ware type, also dating to the 3rd century. Although all the coins in the hoard are nominally silver coins, and should have about 90% silver content, most of them are severely debased, containing as little as 1% silver. Some of the coins issued after a reform of the coinage system by Aurelian in 274 are marked with the letters PXXI, and these have a slightly higher silver content, about 5% silver and 95% copper. The coins were hand struck, and exhibit a number of errors such as mis-striking and double-striking. There are also examples where the coin has been struck using mismatched obverse and reverse dies, or where two blanks have been struck together, resulting in one coin with a blank reverse and a matching coin with a blank obverse. Valuation and display A coroner's treasure inquest was held on 16 November 2011 to determine the status of the hoard, and the coins were declared treasure, which means that they become property of the Crown. Under the terms of the 1996 Treasure Act the coins will be officially valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee, and they may then be purchased by a museum, in which case the purchase price will be shared jointly by the finders and landowner as a reward. Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum has indicated that it wants to purchase the hoard, and has started a public appeal to raise the required money. Some of the coins from the hoard have been put on temporary display at the museum from 22 October to 26 November 2011. See also Frome Hoard List of hoards in Britain Footnotes References Allen, T, Brady, K and Foreman, S. (2016). A Roman