Roman Coin Finds in the UK: What to Do If You Find One

Britain was part of the Roman Empire for nearly four centuries, and the evidence of that occupation is literally buried beneath our feet. From Hadrian’s Wall in the north to the villa estates of Kent and Sussex, Roman coins have been turning up in British fields, riverbanks, and gardens for hundreds of years. For metal detectorists, finding a Roman coin is one of those moments that makes every muddy field session worthwhile. But what happens next matters enormously — both legally and historically.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know: how to identify what you’ve found, your legal obligations under the Treasure Act 1996, how to report finds correctly, and how to get the most out of your discovery without landing yourself in serious trouble with the law.

A Brief History: Why Are There So Many Roman Coins in Britain?

Rome invaded Britain in 43 AD under Emperor Claudius, and the province of Britannia remained under Roman control until around 410 AD. During those nearly 370 years, coinage was used extensively — to pay soldiers stationed at forts along Hadrian’s Wall and throughout the country, to conduct commerce in towns such as Londinium (London), Eboracum (York), Aquae Sulis (Bath), and Camulodunum (Colchester), and to pay taxes to Rome.

Coins were also hoarded in times of instability. When a Roman citizen feared invasion, civil unrest, or simply couldn’t return to retrieve their savings, they buried their wealth. Many never came back. This is why hoards are found in agricultural land far from any known settlement — the owner may have buried their life savings in a hurry and never returned to collect them.

It is estimated that tens of thousands of individual Roman coins are found in the UK each year. The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) database holds records of well over a million finds, and Roman coins make up a substantial proportion of that figure. Britain is genuinely one of the richest countries in the world for Roman numismatic finds, and many of the most significant discoveries have been made by ordinary metal detectorists working legally and responsibly.

Types of Roman Coins You Might Find

Before you can report your find accurately, it helps to have a basic understanding of what you’re looking at. Roman coins were made from several different metals and came in a variety of denominations that changed considerably across the four centuries of occupation.

The Main Denominations

Aureus — A gold coin, relatively rare in field finds. If you find one of these, it is almost certainly reportable as Treasure.
Denarius — The workhorse of Roman currency, originally silver but increasingly debased over time. Many denarii found in Britain are from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD.
Antoninianus — Introduced in 215 AD under Emperor Caracalla, this silver (later billon) coin featured a radiate crown on the emperor’s portrait. Very common finds across Britain.
Sestertius — A large brass coin, often beautifully struck with detailed reverses. These are impressive finds but not always in great condition after 1,700 years in the ground.
As and Dupondius — Smaller bronze/copper coins used for everyday transactions. Very commonly found on Roman settlement sites.
Follis and later 4th-century types — As the Western Empire declined, coin quality dropped sharply. Late Roman bronze coins are extremely common finds in Britain, particularly in the south and east.

What Does a Roman Coin Look Like in the Ground?

Roman coins that have been in British soil for 1,600 or more years will typically be heavily patinated. Bronze and copper coins often develop a green patina from corrosion, which can actually help preserve surface detail. Silver coins may appear blackened or crusty. Gold coins, by contrast, tend to come out of the ground looking remarkably clean, as gold does not corrode.

Don’t make assumptions based on colour alone. A heavily patinated coin can look like a lump of green rock to an untrained eye. Handle finds gently, don’t scrub them, and let an expert have a look before you make any judgements about metal content.

The Treasure Act 1996: Your Legal Obligations

This is the section you absolutely must understand before you do anything else with your find. The Treasure Act 1996 replaced the old law of Treasure Trove and applies across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (Scotland has its own separate legislation under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982).

What Counts as Treasure Under the Act?

Under the Treasure Act 1996 and the Treasure (Designation) Order 2002, a find qualifies as Treasure if it meets one or more of the following criteria:

Any object (other than a coin) that is at least 300 years old and contains at least 10% precious metal (gold or silver).
Any group of two or more coins that are at least 300 years old and contain at least 10% precious metal, found together.
Any group of ten or more coins at least 300 years old (regardless of metal), found together.
Any object found in association with Treasure as defined above.
Any prehistoric base-metal assemblage found as a hoard.

For Roman coins specifically, this means:

A single gold or silver Roman coin is Treasure if found with other qualifying items.
Two or more gold or silver Roman coins found together are Treasure.
Ten or more Roman bronze coins found together constitute Treasure.
A single Roman coin found on its own, made of bronze or copper, does not legally qualify as Treasure — but it should still be recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

The Reporting Requirement

If you believe your find qualifies as Treasure, you are legally required to report it to the local coroner for the district in which it was found within 14 days of the find or within 14 days of realising it might be Treasure. Failure to do so is a criminal offence that can result in a fine of up to £5,000 and/or up to three months in prison.

In practice, most detectorists report via their local Finds Liaison Officer (FLO), who is part of the Portable Antiquities Scheme and can guide the process on your behalf. This is strongly recommended — FLOs are knowledgeable, approachable, and their job is specifically to help you through this process.

The Portable Antiquities Scheme: Your First Call

The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is a voluntary recording scheme funded by Historic England and the devolved heritage bodies of Wales (Amgueddfa Cymru — Museum Wales). It exists specifically to record archaeological finds made by members of the public, particularly metal detectorists.

Each county or region in England and Wales has at least one Finds Liaison Officer. These are professional archaeologists employed to record your finds, help identify them, and advise on the reporting process. You can find your local FLO by visiting the PAS website at finds.org.uk, where you can also search the extensive online database of recorded finds.

Why Should You Record Non-Treasure Finds?

Even if your single Roman coin doesn’t legally qualify as Treasure, recording it with the PAS is genuinely valuable. Here’s why:

Contextual information matters: A coin found in a particular field, at a particular depth, in association with other finds, can tell archaeologists a great deal about trade routes, settlement patterns, and historical events.
Pattern recognition: A single coin might seem insignificant, but when dozens of similar coins from the same area are recorded over years, patterns emerge that point to previously unknown settlement sites or military routes.
Your finds go on record: The PAS database is publicly accessible and your find becomes part of the national archaeological record. Your name will be attached to the find record.
Legal protection for the future: If questions ever arise about how a find was handled, having a PAS record shows you acted responsibly and in good faith.

Step-by-Step: What to Do the Moment You Find a Roman Coin

Step 1 — Stop Digging

The moment your detector signals and you start recovering what looks like a coin, slow down. If the target is a single coin and the signal is clean, recovering it carefully is usually straightforward. But if you start finding multiple coins or realise the hole is producing several targets, stop immediately. You may be on the edge of a hoard, and disturbing a hoard without proper archaeological recording can destroy irreplaceable information — and expose you to serious legal consequences.

Step 2 — Record the Find Spot

Before anything else, record the precise location of your find. Use your GPS device or the GPS function on your smartphone to record coordinates. Most modern detectors, such as the Minelab Equinox, XP Deus II, or Garrett AT Pro, can interface with apps that log find locations automatically. Write down the location, the depth, and what the signal reading was. Take photographs of the find in situ (still in the ground) and after removal.

Grid references are preferable to postcode locations for archaeological purposes. The Ordnance Survey grid reference system is the standard used by the PAS and local heritage bodies.

Step 3 — Handle With Care

Resist any temptation to clean your find immediately. Aggressive cleaning — scrubbing with a toothbrush, soaking in chemicals, or tumbling — can destroy surface detail, patina, and importantly any traces of material that might allow scientific dating or analysis. For now, place the coin in a small zip-lock bag, labelled with the find number, date, and location reference.

If the coin is already very fragile or crumbling, consult a conservator before doing anything. Historic England maintains a list of accredited conservators on their website.

Step 4 — Assess Whether It Might Be Treasure

Look at what you’ve found. Is it gold or silver? Did you find it alongside other coins? Are there more targets in the immediate area? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, treat the find as potential Treasure and begin the reporting process immediately. When in doubt, report — you cannot be penalised for reporting something that turns out not to be Treasure, but you can be prosecuted for failing to report something that is.

Step 5 — Contact Your Finds Liaison Officer

Your FLO is your primary point of contact. Email or telephone them with a description of the find, the date and location of discovery, and any photographs you’ve taken. They will advise you on next steps, which may include bringing the coin in for examination, formally recording it on the PAS database, or, if it qualifies as Treasure, initiating the coroner’s report.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.