STYLE | Art


Roman gold treasure pendant returns to the Island


Brading Roman Villa is pleased to have recently acquired a stunning gold pendant, made from a Roman coin, which was found on the Island


T


he gold coin pendant was found on the beach, on the shoreline, at Sandown back in 2017 and will be on show at Brading Roman Villa from


spring this year.


Made from a complete gold soldidus coin of Valentinian the first who ruled from 364 AD until 375 AD, the coin was made into a pendant sometime after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in about 410AD.


“The type of clasp it has dates it to the early Saxon period,” explains Jasmine Wroath, curator at Brading Roman Villa. “What makes this an interesting find is the idea that someone wanted that coin made into a pendant. It’s also the first one of this type to be found on the Island.


“The find spot would have been part of an estuary during this time and the pendant could have been lost on the sea, or at the opening of the estuary. Was it dropped accidentally, or could it have been thrown deliberately into the sea? There are millions of questions as to how it got there.


62 styleofwight.co.uk


“It’s also interesting to note that people still wear coins made into jewellery; more than 1,500 years later people are still doing the same thing.”


The acquisition process has been quite lengthy, but is a vital and fundamental part of securing artefacts for future generations. Reporting it via the Portable Antiquities Scheme has meant that the pendant was registered on the national database for archaeological finds and then processed through that system before being acquired by Brading Roman Villa.


“It’s now there for public record and becomes part of the Island’s rich social history dating back over thousands of years,” adds Jasmine.


The pendant was declared treasure by the coroner, because of its gold content, and then had to go to the British Museum to be identified.


When it goes on display it will probably be in a prominent position in the Visitors’ Centre with other treasure items for a brief period of time before being put on show in the main gallery.


Brading Roman Villa will showcase the gold coin pendant from spring this year.


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