Chilfrome Hoard
The Chilfrome Hoard is a Romano-British coin hoard dating to approximately 47 AD, in the village of Chilfrome, Dorset, England. Discovered in 2021 by metal detectorist Trenton Oliver, it is the only known "purely Roman hoard" dating to the Roman invasion of Southwest England. The hoard was declared as Treasure under the Portable Antiquities Scheme and is on auction as of November 2025.
Description
During the Roman conquest of Britain, helmed by Claudius. The Legio II Augusta, under command of Titus Flavius Vespasianus (later Emperor Vespasian) went through present day Richborough, Kent, and progressed west to Dorset, in the fight against the Durotriges.The hoard was deposited in present day Chilfrome, between Maiden Castle and Waddon Hill, close to a Roman road between Dorchester and the Mendip Hills, which became a major source of lead mining for the Romans. Based upon the composition of the hoard, a denarius of Claudius from 46-47 AD, was essential to the date of deposit, on top of the worn Roman Republican denarii which saw circulation for over 200 years.
The land around the hoard saw very little disturbance for the following millennia, until its discovery by metal detectorist Trenton Oliver on 21 March 2021, with no dispersal; subsequent excavations yielded no additional coins.
Evaluation was completed by the Dorset Museum, the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the British Museum, before being declared treasure and set for a November 2025 auction by Noonans Mayfair, which estimates the value of the hoard at £6,500.
It is believed to be the only hoard in Dorset to be composed of Roman coins. The absence of Celtic coinage indicates that it may be an official pay packet intended for the troops. It is contemporary to that of a hoard discovered in Suffolk in 2019, and the closest deposit is a larger cache of denarii found in Askerswell in 2018, which was deposited in 85 AD.