The Les Alqueries hoard of Antoniniani more

The Les Alqueries Hoard of Antoniniani1 PERE PAU RIPOLLES and MANUEL GOZALBES [plates 18-26] In December 1947 a hoard of 144 antoniniani was found during clay extraction work on a farm situated on the right bank of the Sec de Betxi river some two kilometres from VLUareal in the municipal district of Les Alqueries, Castellon de la Plana, in eastern Spain (Fig. 1). The find-spot was sub- sequently identified as part of an archaeological site covering more than 3500 square metres. Later excavations uncovered a funerary inscription and finds of pottery of various types.2 The coins were concealed in a short, open- necked, spherical jar, yellowish-grey in colour, with a small base and handle. It came to light when the clay-workers were demolishing a wall which formed part of a modest construction whose floor was of beaten earth and whose walls were largely unplastered. The purpose of the building is at present uncertain. One hundred and twenty-two coins from the hoard were eventually recovered from the workers who had found them by Professor F. Esteve Galvez, in whose collection they now are. All are catalogued below and will in due course be consigned to the Museum of Fine Arts in Castellon. The remaining 22 coins were dispersed, but Professor Esteve Galvez saw 10 of them at the time and recorded that, apart from one coin of Philip I, they all belonged to Gallienus, Salonina and Valerian II; these coins are not included in the statistics published below.1 1 We are grateful to Pepa Vazquez and Roberto Soria for their help with casts and card indices respectively; to C. E. King and C. J. Howgego for their suggestions and comments; to Prof. F. Esteve Galvez For making available to us both the coins and the notes about their discovery which he made at the time; to Brendan Moore for translating our Spanish text; and to R. H. J. Ashton for his editorial interventions. 2 For this site, which seems to comprise a villa and a burial-ground, see J. M. Donate Sebastia,' Arqueologia Romana de Villareal (Castellon)', Archive de Prehiswria Levantina XII (1969), p. 212 (with mention of the hoard), and F. Arasa, Territori ipoblament en epoca romana a les comarques septentrionals del litoral Valencia, Vol. I (Valencia, 1995), pp. 762-3. 3 In 1951 F. Mateu y Llopis was shown 32 of the 122 coins and published them in a volume of coin hoards: 'Hallazgos monetarios VTF, Numario Hispdnico 1 (1952), pp. 244-5, no. 535: the 'Castellon de la Plana' hoard, the inexact name under which it has often been cited subsequently. 64 P. P. R1P0LLES AND M. GOZALBES Fig. 1. Hoards of the period ad 260-268 found on the coast of Tarraconensis. CATALOGUE4 Gordian III 1. Rome. 4th issue, ad 241-243. Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVC Rev. PM TR P V COS II P P. 405 g; 6 h; RIC IV-3, p. 25, 89. 2. Rome. 5th issue, ad 243-244. Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Rev. PROVID AVG. 3-55 g; 12 h; RIC IV-3, p. 31, 148. Philip I 3. Rome, ad 244-247. Obv. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG Rev. LAETIT FVNDAT. 3-90 g; 7 h; RIC IV-3, p. 72, 36b. * Cuneiio = E. Besly and R. Bland, The Cunetio Treasure (London, 1983); Elks = K. J. J. Elks, 'The eastern mints of Valerian and Gallienus: the evidence of two hoards from eastern Turkey', NC 1975, pp. 91-109. LES ALQUERIES HOARD 65 4. Rome, ad 244-247. Obv. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG Rev. LIBERALITAS AVG II. 3 68 g; 6 h; RIC IV-3, p. 72, 38b. 5. Rome, ad 244-247. Obv. IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG Rev. SALVS AVG. 4 25 g; 12 h; RIC IV-3, p. 73, 46b. 6. Rome, ad 248. Obv. IMP PHILIPPVS AVG Rev. SAECVLARES AVG-COS III. 3 64 g; 6 h; RIC IV-3, p. 71, 24c. Otacilia Severa 7. Rome, ad 246-248. Obv. M OTACIL SEVERA AVG Rev. CONCORDIA AVG. 4-23 g; 6 h; RIC IV-3, p. 83, 126. 8. Rome, ad 248-249. Obv. OTACIL SEVERA AVG Rev. PIETAS AVGVSTAE. 466 g; 6 h; RIC IV-3, p. 84, 130. Trajan Decius 9. Rome, ad 249-251. Obv. IMP C M O TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG Rev. GENIVS EXERC ILLVR1C1AN1. 4-46 g; 6 h; RIC IV-3, p. 122, I6c. 10. Rome, ad 250-251. Obv. DIVOCOMMODO Rev. CONSECRATIO. 2-77 g; 7 h; RIC IV-3, p. 132, 94. Herennia Etrnscilla 11. Rome. AD249-2S1. Obv. HER ETRVSCILLA AVG Rev. FECVNDITAS AVG. 3 63 g; 12 h; RIC IV-3, p. 127, 55b. 12. Similar. 3-21 g; 12 h. Volusian 13. Rome, ad 253. Obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG. Rev. P M TR P llll COS II. 2-71 g; 12 h; RIC IV-3, p. 175, 140. 14. Rome, ad 253. Obv. IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG Rev. PIETAS AVGG. 2 81 g; 12 h; RIC IV-3, p. 179, 182. Trebonianus Galius 15. Rome, ad 251-253. Obv. IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Rev. FELICITAS PVBLICA. _L* 3 61 g; 6h; RIC IV-3, p. 162, 34. 16. Rome, ad 251-253. Obv. IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG Rev. LIBERTAS AVGG. 417 g; 6 h; RIC IV-3, p. 163, 39. Aemilian 17. Rome, ad 253. Obv. IMP AEMILIANVS P1VS FEL AVG Rev. PACI AVG. 2-93 g; 7 h; RIC IV-3, p. 195, 8. 66 P. P. RIPOLLES AND M. GOZALBES 18. Rome, ad 253. Obv. IMP AEMILIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Rev. DIANAE VICTR1. 4-51 g; 11 h; RIC IV-3, p. 194, 2b. Valerian and Gallienus: joint reign Valerian 19. Rome. 1st series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALER1ANVS AVG Rev. APOLLON1 PROPVG. 3 67 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 45, 74; Cunetio 437. 20. Rome. 1st series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG Rev. VICTORIA AVGG. 2-64 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 48, 125; Cunetio 447. 21. Similar. 2-61 g; 12 h. 22. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. FELICITAS AVGG. 3-31 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 45, 87; Cunetio 469. 23. Similar. 3-27 g; 12 h. 24. Similar. 2-87 g; 12 h. 25. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. ORIENS AVG. 3-27 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 47, 106; Cunetio 481. 26. Similar. 2-70 g; 6 h. 27. Similar. 2 46 g; 12 h. 28. Similar. 2-89 g; 12 h. 29. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. ORENS AVG (sic). 3 98 g; It h; cf. RIC V-l, p. 47, 106. 30. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. ORIENS AVG. 2-73 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 47, 106; Cunetio 484. 31. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. ORIENS AVG. 2-54 g; I h; RIC V-l, P. 47, 106; Cunetio 485. 32. Similar. 2 08 g; 1 h. 33. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. PROVIDENTIA AVGG. 316 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 47, 113; Cunetio 494. 34. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. REST1TVTOR ORBIS. 2 05 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 47, 117; Cunetio 495. 35. Milan. Obv. IMP VALERIANVS AVG Rev. SECVRIT PERPET. 3 03 g; RIC V-l, p. 57, 256; Cunetio 747. 36. Similar. 3-11 g; 6 h. 37. Eastern mint, ad 254. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG Rev. VENVS VICTRIX. 3-27 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 55, 222; Cunetio 807. LES ALQUERIES HOARD 67 38. Eastern mint, ad 254. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG Rev. VICTORIA AVGG. 3 00 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 55, 223; Cunetio 808. 39. Eastern mint, ad 255. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG Rev. VICTORIAE AVGG. 3-62 g; ; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 55, 225; Cunetio 822. 40. Eastern mint, ad 255. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG Rev. VOTA ORBIS. 2-60 g; 5 h; RIC V-l, p. 60, 294; Cunetio 847. 41. Eastern mint, ad 256-257. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. PIETAS AVGG. 3 08 g; RIC V-l, p. 60, 285; Cunetio 848. 42. Similar. 3-22 g; 12 h. 43. Similar. 2-52 g; 11-12 h. 44. Eastern mint. ad 256-257. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. REST1TVT ORIENT1S. 2-73 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 60, 287; Cunetio 850. 45. Similar. 3-14 g; 5 h. 46. Eastern mint, ad 257. Obv. IMP VALERIANVS AVGG Rev. FELICITAS AVGG. 3-65 g; 5 h; RIC V-l, p. 60, 283; Cunetio 834. 47. Eastern mint, ad 257. Obv. IMP VALERIANVS AVG Rev. P M TR P V COS Mil P P. 2 98 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 59, 277; Cunetio 835. 48. Eastern mint, ad 258-259. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG Rev. PIETAS AVGG. 3-68g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 60, 285; Cunetio 872. 49. Similar. 3-10 g; 6 h. 50. Similar. 3-43 g; 12 h. 51. Eastern mint, ad 258-259. Obv. IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG Rev. RESTITVT ORIENTIS. — . 3-41 g; 5 h; RIC V-l, p. 60, 287; Cunetio 874. 52. Similar. 3-14 g; 12 h. 53. Similar. 3-59 g; 5 h. Gallienus 54. Rome. 1st series. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG Rev. IOVI CONSERVA. 3 02 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 81, 143; Cunetio 545. 55. Rome. 1st series. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG Rev. VIRTVS AVGG. 2 34 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 83, 181; Cunetio 549. 56. Similar. 3 81 g; 6 h. 57. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS PF AVG Rev. VIRTVS AVGG. 2-87 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 83, 182; Cunetio 572. P. P. RIPOLLES AND M. GOZALBES 58. Rome. 3rd series, 1st phase. Obv. IMP GALLIENVS PF AVG GERM Rev. V1RTVS AVGG. 2 52 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 83, 186; Cunetio 599. 59. Similar. 2-51 g; 12 h. 60. Rome. 3rd series, 2nd phase. Obv. IMP GALLIENVS PF AVG GM Rev. PAX AVGG. 3-38 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 81, 157; Cunetio 614. 61. Rome. 4th series, 1st phase. Obv. IMP GALLIENVS PF AVG GM Rev. PAX AVGG. Tl . 3-29 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 81, 157 var.; Cunetio 626. 62. Rome. 4th series, 1st phase. Obv. IMP GALLIENVS PF AVG GM Rev. PAX AVGG. VJ_. 5-26 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 81, 157 var.; Cunetio 632. 63. Rome. 4th series, 2nd phase. Obv. IMP GALLIENVS AVG Rev. PAX AVGG. TI . 3-84 g; 12 h; Cunetio 635. 64. Mint of Gaul. Obv. GALLIENVS PF AVG Rev. VIRT GALLIENI AVG. 3 08 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 72, 54; Cunetio 728. 65. Eastern mint. ad 255. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG Rev. VIRTVS AVGG. 3-81 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 104, 455; Cunetio 846. 66. Eastern mint, ad 255. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS AVG Rev. RESTITVT ORIENTIS. 3 25 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 103, cf. 448. 67. Eastern mint, ad 256-257. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS PF AVG Rev. PIETAS AVGG. 3 87 g; 7 h; RIC V-l, p. 103, 447; Cunetio 849. 68. Similar. 3-42 g; 5 h. 69. Eastern mint, ad 256-257. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS PF AVG Rev. VIRTVS AVGG. 3-90 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 104, 456; Cunetio 852. 70. Eastern mint, ad 257. Obv. IMP GALLIENVS AVG Rev. VICTORIA GERMAN. 3 28 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 104, 452; Cunetio 839. 71. Eastern mint, ad 258-259. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS PF AVG Rev. PIETAS AVGG. & . 3 76 g; 7 h; RIC V-l, p. 103, 447; Cunetio 867. 72. Eastern mint, ad 258-259. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS PF AVG Rev. VIRTVS AVGG. ±- . 3-23 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 104, 456; Cunetio 875. Salonina 73. Rome. 1st series. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. IVNO REGINA. 3 10 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. Ill, 29; Cunetio 651. 74. Similar. 2-74 g; 7 h. 75. Similar. 2 02 g; 6 h. LES ALQUERFES HOARD 69 76. Similar. 318 g; 12 h. 77. Similar. 2-65 g; 6h. 78. Similar. 2-88 g; 4-5 h. 79. Rome. 1st series. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. PIETAS AVGG. 2 81 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 111, 35; Cunetio 655. 80. Similar. 2-30 g; 12 h. 81. Rome. 1st series. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. VENVS VICTRIX. 312 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 112, 37 con.; Cunetio 657. 82. Milan. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. FECVND1TAS AVG. 2 31 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 114, 57; Cunetio 757. 83. Similar. 2-41 g; 11 h. 84. Mint of Gaul. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. FELICITAS PVBLICA. 3-37 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 108, 6; Cunetio 732. 85. Eastern mint, ad 256-257. Obv. CORN SALONINA AVG Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG. 3-97 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 114, 63; Cunetio 855. 86. Similar. 3-90 g; 5 h. 87. Similar. 3-62 g; 11 h. 88. Similar. 3-82 g; 11 h. 89. Similar. 2-86 g; 11-12 h. 90. Eastern mint, ad 256-257. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. ROMAE AETERNAE. 2-88 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 115, 67; Cunetio 856. 91. Eastern mint, ad 258-259. Obv. CORN SALONINA AVG Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG. A. 4 05 g; 12 h; RICV-l, p. 114,63; Cunetio 870. Valerian II 92. Rome. Obv. P C L VALERIANVS NOB CAES Rev. PIETAS AVGG. 2-39 g; 11 h; RIC V-l, p. 118, 20; Cunetio 664. 93. Rome. Obv. DIVO CAES VALERIANO Rev. CONSECRATIO. S". 3 22 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 119, 27; Cunetio 686. 94. Similar. 2-83 g; 7 h. 95. Rome. Obv. DIVO CAES VALERIANO Rev. CONSECRATIO. 1-98 g; 11 h; RIC V-l, p. 118, 24; Cunetio 677. 96. Similar. 2-99 g; 7 h. 97. Mint of Gaul. Obv. VALERIANVS CAES Rev. IOVI CRESCENT!. 4-01 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 116, 3; Cunetio 738. 98. Eastern mint, ad 256-257. Obv. VALERIANVS NOBIL CAES Rev. PRINC IWENTVT1S. 3 05 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 122, 49; Cunetio 857. 70 P. P. RIPOLLES AND M. GOZALBES Saloninus 99. Rome. Obv. LIC COR SAL VALERIANVS N CAES Rev. PRINC I WENT. I P. 3-91 g; 12 h; RIC V-l. p. 126, 28; Cunetio 700. 100. Mint of Gaul. Obv. SALON VALERIANVS CAES Rev. PIETAS AVG. 2 22 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 124, 9; Cunetio 744. 101. Eastern mint, ad 256-257. Obv. SALON VALERIANVS NOB CAES Rev. SPES PVBL1CA. 3 35 g; 5 h; RIC V-l, p. 127, 36; Cunetio 858. 102. Similar. 3 10 g; 5 h. 103. Similar. 3-51 g; 11 h. 104. Eastern mint, ad 258-259. Obv. SALON VALERIANVS NOB CAES Rev. SPES PVBLICA. jl . 3-71 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 127, 36; Cunetio 878. Gallienus, sole reign Gallienus 105. Rome. 1st series. Obv. IMP GALLIENVS AVG Rev. VIC GALL AVG III. TJ_. 1-96 g; 6 h;RIC V-l, p. 156,296 var.; Cunetio 888. 106. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. IOVI VLTOR1. SI ■ 3-41 g; 8 h; RIC V-l, p. 150, 221; Cunetio 938. 107. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. VICTORIA AVG [III]. U_ . 2-76g; 4h; RIC V-l, p. 157, 301/305; Cunetio 947. 108. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. VICTORIA AVG IU.U_. 2 58 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 157,305;C««<?r/t> 950. 109. Similar. 2-76 g; 4-5 h. 110. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. VICTORIA AVG III. 318 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 157, cf. 305; Cunetio 958. 111. Rome. 2nd series. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. PAX AVG. VJ_ . 2-56 g; 5 h; RIC V-l, p. 153, 256; Cunetio 965. 112. Rome. 4th series. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. INDVLGENT AVG. "F. 3 56 g; 12 h; RIC\-\, p. 148, 205; Cunetio 1118. 113. Eastern mint. Before the usurpation of Macrianus and Quietus. Obv. IMP C P LIC GALLIENVS PF AVG Rev. VICTORIA AVG. B. ■ 3 67 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 104, 450; Cunetio 1877. LES ALQUER1ES HOARD 71 114. Eastern mint. Elks, 2nd issue, ad 263. Obv. GALL (EN VS PF AVG Rev. VIRTVS AVGVSTI. _[_\ 4-13 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 190, 672 var. 115. Eastern mint. Elks, 3rd issue, ad 264. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. AEQVTAS AVG. * 1 . 2-89 g; 5 h; RIC V-l, p. 186, 627; Cunetio 1894. 116. Eastern mint. Elks, 3rd issue, ad 264. Obv. GALLIENVS AVG Rev. AETERNITATI AVG. W. 3 30 g; 5 h; RIC V-l, p. 187, 630. Salonina 117. Rome. 1st and 2nd series. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. VESTA. T. 2-48 g; 6 h; RIC V-l, p. 194, 32; Cunetio 988. 118. Rome. 1st and 2nd series. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. PVDICITIA. VI?- 260 g; 1 h; RIC V-l, p. 194, 25; Cunetio 991. 119. Rome. 1st and 2nd series. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. VENVS GENETRIX. 3 00 g; 12 h; RIC V-l, p. 194, 30; Cunetio 995. 120. Rome. 4th series. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. PVDICITIA. Q. 3-23 g; 6 h; RIC V-I, p. 194, 25; Cunetio 1146. 121. Eastern mint. Elks, 4th issue, ad 265. Obv. SALONINA AVG Rev. CERERI AVG.+M . 311 g; 6 h; RIC V-I, p. 200, 90 var. Quietus 122. Eastern mint, ad 260-261. Obv. IMP C FVL QVIEWS P F AVG Rev. AEQVTAS AVG [sic].tj_. 4-42 g; 12 h; RICV-2, p. 583, 10. The Les Alqueries hoard is formed exclusively of antoniniani of all emperors between Gordian III and Gallienus (Fig. 2). The coins of the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus (253-260) form 72-9% of the total, as against 14-7% for the period 241-252 and 12 3% for the post-260 period. The three most recent pieces are a coin from the fourth Rome issue of Gallienus (INDVLGENT AVG), a coin of Salonina (PVDICITIA) of the same issue, and a coin of Salonina from Antioch with a palm-branch in the exergue (CERERI AVG), all dating ad 265.* This indicates a burial date of ad 265-266, although it is of course theoretically possible that the hoard was buried later, its owner having deliberately excluded the abundant fifth and sixth Rome issues (ad 266 and ad 267-268) because of the poor quality of their metal. The abundance of eastern coins is one of the notable features of the hoard, forming as they do some 35 24% of the total, and 41-34% for the period 5 R. Bland and A. Burnett (eds), The Normartby Hoard and Other Roman Coin Hoards (London, 1988), pp. 119-23; Elks (n. 4), pp. 105-6. 72 P.P. RIPOLLES AND M. GOZALBES Rome Milan Eastern mint Mint in Gaul Uncertain TOTAL VJk'lUldJa 1 LI 2 2 Philip I 4 t >..' i a 1lid J *.. , 11 .1 2 2 11 Ol 1_. L- V. 1 LI! 2 2 Herennia Etmscillci 2 2 Volusian 2 2 2 2 Aemilian 2 2 Valerian 16 2 17 35 Galliemis (253-260) 10 g 1 19 Salonina (253-260) 9 2 7 1 19 Valerian II 5 1 1 7 Saloninus ] 4 1 6 Gallienus (260-268) 8 4 12 Salonina (260-268) 4 1 5 Quietus 1 1 TOTAL 71 4 43 4 122 Fig. 2. Composition of the Les AJqueries hoard. 253-265, almost as high as the percentages of coins from the mint of Rome. Among the eastern coins in the hoard is one of Quietus; his coins, and those of his brother Macrianus, regularly occur in Iberian hoards, albeit in modest numbers. Eastern coins in general are relatively scarce in the central parts of the empire, but appear frequently in hoards (Fig. 3) and as chance finds on the Iberian peninsula.6 The fact that one of the three latest coins in the hoard is eastern suggests that eastern coins were reaching Spain shortly after they were struck; this too is confirmed by other hoards.1 These phenomena will be discussed below. 6 J. P. Callu, La politique monetaire des empereurs romains de 238 is 311 (Paris, 1959), p. 219, n. 9, pointing out the scarcity of coins of Macrianus and Quietus in the West. For example, the Falerone hoard, found close to the Adriatic coast and dated c. ad 265, has only six coins of Macrianus out of a total of 7591 pieces, representing only 0 07% (G. Moretti, 'Ripostiglio monetale rinvenuto nell'area dell'antica Falerio', Notizie degli Scavi di Antickitd 1922, pp. 59-76), compared with 0-8% in the Les AJqueries hoard, 4'34% in the Almenara hoard (M, Gozalbes, 'El tesoro de Almenara', Annals de rinstitut dEstudis Gironins xxxvi (1996-97), pp. 599-621), 3-95% in the Jimena de la Frontera hoard (H. D. Gallwey, 'A hoard of third century antoniniani from southern Spain*, NC1962, pp. 335-408), and 8T % in the Mas d'Arago hoard. For discussion of this phenomenon and of the presence of eastern coins in general in Spain, see M. Gozalbes, 'El tesoro del Mas d'Arago (Cervera del Maestro, Castellon) y la decada del 260 dC, Quaderns de Prehistdria i Arqueologia de Castellon 17 (1996), pp. 383-404. See also 1. Pereira, J.-P. Bost and J. Hiernard, Fouilles de Conimbriga III, les monnaies (Paris, 1974), pp. 236-8. Eastern coins are also found throughout the Balkans, but generally these are of earlier date and seem to be a result of Macrianus' expedition there. ' In the Almenara hoard, coins of the fourth Antioch issue accompany coins of the filth Rome issue, suggesting a certain time-lag, albeit very small: Gozalbes, ' E! tesoro de Almenara' (n. 6). LES ALQUERIES HOARD 73 Hoards Province Latest coin Total coins Coins Distribution of the coins of AD 253-268(%) Gaul Gaul Rome (V-G) (Post) Milan East Others Villareal Tarraconensis 265 122 104 50*95 3*84 384 41-34 Almcnara Tarraconensis 266 31 23 30-43 4-34 4-34 56-52 4-34 Mas d'Arag6 Tarraconensis 266 53 37 54-05 18-91 24-32 2-70 Tarragona Tarraconensis ZOO \ f) 105 54 51-8 3-70 - 1-8 24 07 18-51 ALtatulia Tarraconensi s £00 {:) Tin 144 71-52 8-33 0-69 5-55 10-41 3-47 Jimena de la Baetica 267 29881 28931 73-14 0-67 025 8-94 15-51 1 -45 Frontera Etaples Belgica 268 3791 3030 5-84 14-42 77-55 0-26 006 1-84 Mons-Boubert Belgica 268 572 395 12-65 13-67 68-10 0-50 1-51 3-50 Rocquencourt Belgica 266 4913 3168 11-67 15 71 65-53 0-88 1-54 4-64 Sta. Maria de Alpes Coitiae 266 810 804 27-36 012 70 02 0-74 0-99 Turin Satnica Pannonia 267 605 558 79-21 J 79 501 6-27 7-70 Dvor Pannonia 265 97 67 84-41 1-29 12-98 1-29 Imbriobeck Pannonia 265 273 265 51-32 4-52 14-71 14-33 1509 Orchomenos Macedonia 266 95 95 30-52 210 57-89 9-47 Fig. 3. Hoards of the period ad 265-268 found in various Roman provinces. Another feature of the hoard is the absence of coins of Postumus, which corroborates the theory that his coins did not circulate on the Iberian peninsula in any great number, even though the Gallic Empire which he created exercised some form of control there for several years (see below).* Hoards from the second half of the third century are especially numerous in western Europe, and are generally interpreted as reflecting a period of considerable political and economic instability. Barbarian incursions across the Rhine and the Danube were a constant problem and kept imperial troops occupied on the frontiers throughout the reigns of Valerian/Gallienus, Postumus and his successors. The most significant political event of the period in the western provinces was without doubt the secession of the Gallic Empire initiated by Postumus in ad 260.' Much remains uncertain about the political situation in Spain in the period ad 26(^268. Archaeology has so far shed little light, and the sole piece of information provided by the literary * See I. Pereira et al. (n. 6), pp. 235-6, n. 14. Note however J. M. Gurt, 'Comentario sobre un lote de monedas de Postumo', Gaceia Numismdiica 45 (1977), pp. 10-13, dealing with a possible hoard, found in Rosas (Girona), of seven coins of Postumus, the latest dating ad 267. Our knowledge of this find is scanty, but the fact that it seems to have contained only coins of the Gallic Empire may reflect its northern origin. * J. F. Drinkwater, The Gallic Empire (Stuttgart, 1987). 74 P. P. RIPOLLES AND M. GOZALBES sources is the Historia Augusta, Divus Claudius 7.5, which refers to Spain forming part of the Gallic Empire. Unfortunately the context is the reign of Tetricus, when Spain was almost certainly back under the control of Rome.10 Spanish epigraphy corroborates the tradition of a secession, but suggests that it took place earlier. There are at least four Spanish inscriptions referring to Postumus (260-269), but none referring to his successors in the Gallic Empire." There are no inscriptions referring to Gatlienus which can be safely dated ad 260-268: inscriptions of the central empire reappear only at the start of the reign of Claudius II (268 270), who may thus have been recognised as emperor in Spain from the outset of his reign.12 It thus seems likely that Spain, or parts of it, seceded to the Gallic Empire in the time of Postumus, earlier than the Historia Augusta suggests, and rejoined the central empire in the late 260s. The extent of Iberian territory which seceded and when individual parts may have seceded are matters of debate. It is generally accepted that Tarraconensis was controlled by the Gallic Empire, but opinion is divided over Baetica and Lusitania.13 Until recently, any hoard from Spain ending with coins of Galhenus like the Les Alqueries hoard was interpreted as more or less direct evidence for barbarian invasions across the Rhine and the Danube throughout the reigns of Valerian/Gallienus, Postumus and his successors.'4 However, as one of us has pointed out elsewhere,11 all the hoards concerned seem to date to ad 265-267 (see Fig. 1), whereas the invasions, although their precise chronology remains uncertain, must have taken place earlier than that date, probably in the period ad 259-264. There are indeed some hoards which may ,a Drinkwater (n. 9), p. 70; J. Lafaurie, 'L'empire gaulois. Apport de la numismatique'. ANRW 2, p. 872. " C1L h, 4919 (Miranda de Ebro, Burgos); C1L n, 4943 (Guadix, Granada); CIL u, 5736 (Cofino, Asturias); ihe miliari of Errekaleor; J. A. Abasolo et al., ' Columna miliaria de Errekaleor (Victoria-AJava)Esludios de Arqueologia Alavesa II (1983), pp. 427-39. See also J. Lostal, op. cit. n. 18 below. 13 SeeA. Balil,'Hispaniaenlosanos260 a 300d.d. J.C.",Emm/a27(1959),p. 274.Moreover, the failure of the Historia Augusta to mention a recovery of Spain, or part of it, by Claudius suggests that the event took place earlier. 13 For varying views, see Drinkwater (n. 9), p. 118; P. Le Roux, Varmee romaine et f organisation desprovinces iberiques dAugusts a Finvasion de 409 (Paris, 1982), p. 380; I. Pereira et al. (n. 6), p. 236, n. 32; J. Hiernard, 'Monnaies d'or et histoire de 1'empire gallo-romam', RBN 1983, pp. 82, 84 and 86; M. Christol, 'La felicite de Postume', in H. Huvelin et al. (eds), Melanges de numismatique offer! a Pierre Bastien (Wetteren, 1987), p. 116; A. Padilla, La Provincia Romano de la Belica (Ecija, 1989), pp. 20-1. M For the invasions and their consequences, see, for example, E. Demougeot, La formation de FEurope el les invasions barbares: des origines germaniques a iavenement de Diocletien (Paris, 1969), pp. 484-507; A. Cepas, 'Uso de la numismatica como documento historico: las invasiones del s.III\ La Moneda Hispdnica. Ciudady Territorio(Actas del I Encuentro Peninsular de Numismatica Antigua, Madrid, noviembre 1994), Anejos de Archive Espahol de Arqueologia XIV (1995), pp. 361-8.1. Martinez Mira has discussed the matter extensively in an unpublished doctoral thesis (University of Alicante, 1992). 15 Gozalbes, 'El tesoro de Almenara' (n. 6). LES ALQUERIES HOARD 75 date to c. 260, and may reflect the invasions, although they are too few in number to allow any firm conclusion to be drawn.16 An alternative reason for the concealment of the Les Alqueries and the other hoards of the period 265-267 might be the activities of pirates and the maritime movements of Frankish communities (including the Franks serving as auxiliaries in the army of Postumus: Historia Augusta, Vit. Gal. 7, 1), which have been documented from a slightly later date." The coastal location of the hoards (Fig. 1) would be consistent with this otherwise unprovable hypothesis. A third solution would be to associate the hoards of the mid-260s with the formation of the Gallic Empire, and the secession to it of at least part of Spain; they might then reflect clashes between the supporters of Gallienus and Postumus around ad 266-267. The epigraphic evidence lends some slight support. For example, of the six miliari known from Tarraconensis between ad 253 and 268, three belong to the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus (they date 253-256), and three to Postumus (they date 260-268), perhaps reflecting successive control over peninsular territory.18 Spain would have been important for both sides. The Legio VII Gemina was stationed there. The Historia Augusta describes Spain at this time as one of the pillars of the empire, probably in the economic sense, and it is likely that Spain was a significant source of wheat, oil, metals and other produce, as well as of taxes.19 This hypothesis would explain why all the hoards concerned were buried close to the via Augusta (Fig. 1), a major military artery. Other inland hoards apparently buried near the via Augusta could then be explained in the same way, for example those of Llanos de Ciego (Cazorla, Jaen), Ecija (Seville) or even Valverde del Camino (Huelva); these hoards have not yet 16 From Vilauba (A. Roure et al., 'Troballa d'un conjunt monetari a Vilauba (Camos, Pla de t'Estany)', Empuries 48-50 (1986-89). pp. 268-81); from Benicato (M. Llorens and P.P. Ripolles, ' El deposito monetal de la domus A de Romeu: nuevas aportaciones a la circulation de moneda de bronce en Saguntum durante el s.III d.C, Saguntum 28, p. 221; and from D'Eula (A. Gonzalez and J. M. Abascal, 'La ocultacion monetal de la D'Eula, Crevillente (Alicante) y su signification para el estudio de tas invasiones del siglo III', Lucentum VI (1987), pp. 183-96. 11 S. J. Keay, 'The Conventus Tarraconensis in the third century AD: crisis or change?', The Roman West in the Third Century (Oxford, 1981), p. 477; cf. D. Gricourt, 'Les incursions de pirates de 268 en Gaul septentrionale et leurs incidences sur la politique de Postume. A propos du hiatus numismatique d'Ardies', TM 10 (1988), pp. 9-43. ls J. Lostal, Los miliarios de la provincia Tarraconense (Zaragoza, 1992), nos. 124-9, and maps on pp. 402-3 (the attribution to Victorinus of the miliari no, 130 is doubtful). See also n. 11 above; Lafaurie (n. 10), pp. 871-2, 963^t, 1908; Drinkwater (n. 9), p. 33. '* Historia Augusta, Dims Claudius 7,5; 'Gallia et Hispania, vires rei publicae', although the passage may have been re-edited at the end of the fourth century. At least 20 mines may have been active in Spain during this period: C. Domergue, Les mines de la peninsule iberique dans Fantiquite romaine (Rome, 1990), pp. 215-24. See also Drinkwater (n. 9), p. 211, n. 17; K.W. Harl, Coinage in the Roman Economy (London, 1996), pp. 13 and 145; K. Hopkins, 'Trade and taxes in the Roman Empire', JRS 70 (1980), pp. 101-5. 76 P. P. RIPOLLES AND M. GOZALBES been published in a satisfactory form, but we do know that they all contained a large number of late coins of Gallienus.10 However, none of these hypotheses explains why so many eastern coins occur in Spanish hoards of the period ad 265-267, whereas they are relatively rare in contemporary hoards found in other western provinces. See Fig. 3.21 In hoards from Belgica, Gallic coins of Postumus and Valerian-Gallienus predominate. In Cisalpine Gaul, Milan is predominant. In Pannonia, the majority of hoard coins were struck at Rome, with lesser numbers from Siscia and Viminacium. As might be expected, the Pannonian hoards also have a significant representation of eastern coins, but only the easternmost hoard, that of Orchomenos (Boiotia), has a majority of eastern coins, and is in fact remarkably similar in composition to the Almenara hoard. The proportion of eastern coins in the Spanish hoards is in all cases high. Most of these hoards come from the coast of Tarraconensis, but the fact that the Jimena de la Frontera hoard in Baetica has a high proportion of eastern coins should cause us to revise Callu's view that the hoard is Iberian only by accident.22 At first glance, trade might seem to be an attractive explanation for the eastern coins in Spanish hoards. But it would not adequately account for their large numbers, for the concentration of their dates of issue within a fairly brief period, and for the fact that they reached Spain within a relatively short time after emission. As Duncan-Jones and Howgego have recently pointed out, the movements of coin generated by trade between different regions tend to be slow and relatively small in scale.23 Some of the eastern 10 Llanos de Ciego (coins of Gallienus): M. Tarradell, 'Sobre las invasiones germanicas del s.III d.C.en la Peninsula Iberica', Estudios CIdsicos 3 (1955), p. 105. Ecija (coins of the period of Gallienus): S. Ordonez, Colonia Augusta Firma Astigi (1988), pp. 61 and 78. Valverde del Camino (800 radiates between Gordian III and Gallienus): A. Balil,' Las invasiones germanicas en Hispania durante la segunda mitad del siglo 111 d. De J.C.', Cuadernos de Trabajos de la Escuela Espanola de Historia y Arqueologia en Rome IX (1957), p. 142. 2' There are unfortunately no records of hoards from areas such as Africa or southern Italy with which to make comparisons. The material in Fig. 3 is derived as follows: M. Gozalbes,' El tesoro de Almenara' (n. 6); idem, 'Mas d'Arago' (n. 6); Gallwey (n. 6) (Jimena de la Frontera hoard: the find-spot is sometimes as given as Gibraltar or Serrania de Ronda, the former being more accurate); J. Hiernard, 'Recherches numismatiques sur Tarragone au Illeme siecle apres Jesus-Christ', Numisma 1978, pp. 150-5 (Attafulla and Tarragona hoards); J. B. Giard, 'Le tresor d'Etaples', RN 1965, pp. 206-24; M. Amandry et si,, 'Le tresor de Mons-Boubert (Somme)', TM 9 (1987), pp. 31-45; D. Hoilard and P. Gendre, 'Le tresor de Rocquencourt et la transformation du monnayage d'imitation sous le regne de Postume', TM 8 (1986), pp. 9-45; G. Comaggia, 'Gli Antoniniani del III secolo nel ripostiglio di via S. Maria e Stampatori a Torino', RIN 31 (1918), pp. 234-71; A. Demo, 'Munzfunde aus der Zeit Gallienus im Gebiet zwischen den Fliissen Sava und Drava', Archeoloski Vestnik 33 (1982), pp. 258-495 (Satnica, Dvor and Imbriobeck hoards); O. Voetter, 'Zu Gallienus und seiner FamineNZ45 (1912), pp. 163-8 (Orchomenos hoard). " Callu (n. 6), p. 267. " R. P. Duncan-Jones, Structure and Scale in the Roman Economy (Cambridge, 1990), p. 42; C. J. Howgego, Ancient History from Coins (London, 1995), p. 92 (with some counter-examples on p. 93). LES ALQUERIES HOARD 77 coins in Spanish hoards may be explained in this way, but, if trade were to be posited as the explanation for the bulk of them, one would have to imagine a single, large and unrepealed exchange of goods between the east and Spain during this period. For this there is no historical or archaeological evidence, and indeed it is usually assumed that trade declines during periods of unrest.24 Finally, therefore, we are inclined to explain the eastern coinage in Spain as state expenditure, the principal means whereby coins were put into circulation in the ancient world." Eastern coinage was not, it seems, being used to make regular payments to the West.26 In the present instance we would in any case have to imagine a chronologically limited rather than a regular transfer of coinage. A military cause might be the most likely. We might imagine the 'transfer of goods from Spain to the East for use in a particular campaign by the army, or, more probable, a transfer of troops from the East to Spain to take part in a particular campaign, perhaps that which, as we have suggested above, Gallienus may have waged against Postumus. Troop displacements in this period are not uncommon,27 and there are earlier examples of eastern military forces being installed in Spain,28 although there is no direct evidence for such movements to Spain in the mid 260s. This putative transfer would probably have taken place by sea, given the coastal location of most of the hoards in Spain with eastern coins. At least some of the coins may have been sent in bags in which eastern coins predominated.2* 14 For example shipwrecks from the third cenlury seem to be relatively few in number: see A. J. Parker, Ancient Shipwrecks of the Mediterranean and the Roman Provinces (Oxford, 1992; BAR International Series 580). " Howgego (n. 23), p. 91. 16 id., 'The circulation of silver coins, models of the Roman economy, and crisis in the third century A.D.: some numismatic evidence", in C. E. King and D. G. Wigg (eds), Coin Finds and Coin Use in the Roman World: the Thirteenth Oxford Symposium on Coinage and Monetary History, 1993 (SFMA 10; Berlin, 1996), p. 229. " Drinkwater (n. 9), pp. 111-16. " Le Roux (n. 13), pp. 375 and 382-3. M For example, there are numerous die-links among the eastern coins in the Jimena de la Frontera hoard: Gallwey (n. 6), p. 36. PLATE 18 RIPOLLES AND GOZALBES. LES ALQUERIES HOARD (I) PLATE 19 R1POLLES AND GOZALBES, LES ALQUERIES HOARD (2) PLATE 20 RIPOLLES AND GOZALBES, LES ALQUERJES HOARD (3) PLATE 21 RJPOLLES AND GOZALBES, LES ALQUERJES HOARD (4) PLATE 22 RIPOLLES AND GOZALBES, LES ALQUERIES HOARD (5) PLATE 23 RIPOLLES AND GOZALBES, LES ALQUER1ES HOARD (6) PLATE 25 R1POLLES AND GOZALBES, LES ALQUERIES HOARD (8) PLATE 26 R1POLLES AND GOZALBES, LES ALQUER1ES HOARD (9)