A HAUL of Roman coins found near to Whitchurch has been declared treasure at an inquest.

John Ellery, HM Senior Coroner for Shropshire, held two treasure inquests on August 7 investigating the circumstances of two recently reported finds from north Shropshire.

One find was 37 Roman coins, known as the 'Hollyhurst Haul', owning to its discovery location in Hollyhurst, while the other was a decorative medieval silver brooch that was discovered on ploughed land in Whittington, near Oswestry.

The Roman coin hoard was reported to the finds liaison officer for Liverpool, Manchester and Cheshire, Ben Jones and was discovered as a result of responsible metal detecting by an experienced amateur detectorist.

The hoard consists of small denomination brass or copper alloy coins known as dupondii and asses.

The small hoard was deposited during the reign of the Emperor Trajan (AD 98-117) after AD 111.

All the coins represent normal everyday coinage in circulation during the late first and early second centuries being dominated by issues struck under the emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) and Vespasian (AD 69-79).

Peter Reavill, finds liaison officer for the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme, said: "The face value of this hoard is low and it represents everyday spending money that Shropshire’s resident Romans would have had in their pockets.

"As such it is a very ordinary treasure but one that we can all relate to – the odds and ends of small change saved and cherished to be spent in times of need or on a rainy day.

"In terms of spending value a Roman legionary soldier was paid 300 denarii a year, or around 4,800 asses, so these coins represent no more than two to three days legionary pay.

"Looking at it a different way a loaf of bread would have cost two Asses and for the same price you could have bought a litre of wine.

"So in many ways these coins wouldn’t get you very far, but that is what makes them a treasure and this is why Shropshire Museums’ wish to acquire them – because they represent the normal everyday Shropshire past rather than the monies of the elite."

Shropshire Museums have expressed an interest in acquiring the find with the hope of displaying them in the Roman galleries at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.

Now both these finds have been declared treasure they will now be valued by the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport treasure valuation committee.

Once a market value is set Shropshire Museums will fund raise so that these artefacts can be saved for the people of the county, and the monies raised will then be given to the finders and landowners as a reward.