New finds of roman denarii from the Baydar valley (Crimea)

The study of the classical antiquity numismatic record from Southern Crimea is under way. It is another group of Roman denarii from the Baydar Valley which is introduced here into scholarly usage. There are 7 coins recovered during surface investigations in the valley as well as a small hoard of 22 coins, ten of which were studied de visu. Thus, on the present-day surface, a sample of coins of the 1st - early 3rd century was found: one each of Galba, Vespasian, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Caracalla, while Septimius Severus was represented with a pair of coins. The hoard consisted of denarii issued under the emperors of the Antonine dynasty. It contained coins dating back to the reigns of Trajan (1 item), Hadrian (2 items), Antoninus Pius (2 items), Marcus Aurelius (4 items), and Commodus (1 item). If the selected sample correctly reflects the hoard’s content, then it was formed under the latest of the above mentioned emperors or under his closest successors. All these coins could circulate among the legionnaires who served in the garrison of Charax. A fragment of a cast limes denarius of Commodus was found as well, made of high-tin bronze; it is supposed to be made within the same time range as the denarius-stater.