Oldest Roman coin found on shelf

Monday 1st February 2010

The silver denarius Roman Republic coin dating from 211BC was found during an excavation in 2000 at Hallaton, Leics.

But the coin sat in storage at a Leicester museum with 5000 other coins found at the dig, waiting to be dated by experts.

The coin, which would have been the equivalent of a day's pay for a legionary, predates Britain's previous oldest Roman coin by four years.

Helen Sharp, Hallaton Treasure project manager, said it was a big shock to discover they had such a significant find right under their noses.

She said: "The coin had been kept in storage for ten years in a low humidity room, just sitting there on a shelf."

"It was such a big surprise when we found out it is the oldest Roman coin in the country – it was dug up a decade ago."