Coins On Display

The 88 silver denarii are slightly larger than a new 5p piece and are in quite remarkable condition.

And it was thanks to the Resource/V&A Purchase Grant Fund that Littlehampton Town Council was able to buy the coins for the museum.

Town council community resources committee chairman Wendy Squire said: "Although we know that people have lived in the Littlehampton area for thousands of years, seeing artefacts like these coins brings this fact to life."

The intricate detail on the coins is still very sharp and it is hard to believe some of them were made more than 1,900 years ago. They are from the reigns of four different Roman emperors: Domitan, Trajan, Hadrian and Antonius Pius Faustina I.

One side of each coin is stamped with an image of the ruling Emperor's head but the images on the reverse sides can vary between Roman goddesses, the Emperor's wife or even one of his mistresses.

It was during a metal detectors' rally in August, 2000, on farmland belonging to the Baird family that the coins were unearthed.

British Museum experts said the range of coins was consistent with a hoard deposited in the second century.

But James Baird's use of a JCB digger to excavate the field received heavy criticism at last July's inquest when the coins were declared treasure trove.

West Sussex coroner Roger Stone said at the time that there were lessons to be learned following the rally in which 500 metal detector enthusiasts were allowed onto the land. The coins are currently on display in the museum reception area but will eventually become part of the permanent displays of The Littlehampton Story: BC-CD.