Here are a few items found by STe Shorters using his Spectra V3i
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Monday, 10 November 2014
Trebonianus Gallus
Story By:- justinian
The weather was fantastic on Sunday, so drove out to my usual hunting ground and pulled this beauty out of the dirt. It was lying at the farthest point in my swing, and I just caught a bit of it - with a short broken bleep. A repeat swing over the target area revealed a soliud signal, VDI of 72 and heavy on the 2.5 Khz frequency. The coin was minted in Rome in 251 A.D. by emperor Trebonianus Gallus. The reverse shows the Roman goddess Libertas, the same goddess whom the American Statue of Liberty was modeled after.
Trebonianus Gallus AR (silver) Antoninianus. Rome mint: 251 AD.
Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate draped bust right.
Reverse: LIBERTAS AVGG, Libertas standing left holding Pileus & Vindicta.
Libertas is seen here holding a PILEUS. The pileus was a brimless, felt cap worn in Ancient Greece and later also introduced in Ancient Rome. It was associated with the manumission of slaves who wore it upon their liberation, and became emblematic of liberty and freedom from bondage in classical antiquity. In Ancient Rome, a slave was freed in a ceremony in which a praetor touched the slave with a rod called a vindicta and pronounced him to be free. The slave's head was shaved and a pileus was placed upon it. Both the vindicta and the cap were considered symbols of Libertas, the goddess representing liberty.
IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG translates to “Imperatator Caesar Consul Trebonianus Gallus Augustus”.
LIBERTAS AVGG translates to “Liberty of the Emperors” - (Plural, for him and his co-emperor Hostilian.
Trebonianus Gallus
Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected ancestry of Etruscan senatorial background. He had two children Gaius Vibius Volusianus, later Emperor, and a daughter, Vibia Galla. While Governor of Moesia (the south bank of the Danube, from Serbia to Macedonia), Gallus was a key figure in repelling the frequent invasion attacks by the Gothic tribes of the Danube and became popular with the army, bolstered by his official image: military haircut, gladiatorial physique, intimidating stance. In June 251, the current emperor Decius died in the Battle of Abrittus at the hands of the Goths they were supposed to punish for raids into the empire. When the army heard the news, the soldiers proclaimed Gallus emperor, despite Hostilian, Decius' surviving son, ascending the imperial throne in Rome. Gallus did not back down from his intention to become emperor, but accepted Hostilian as co-emperor, perhaps to avoid the damage of another civil war. Gallus proclaimed his son Volusianus as Caesar, and he was appointed as such by the Senate.
Anxious to secure his position at Rome and stabilize the situation on the Danube frontier, Gallus made peace with the Goths. Peace terms allowed the Goths to leave the Roman territory while keeping their captives and plunder. In addition, it was agreed that they would be paid an annual subsidy. On June 24, 251, Decius was deified, but by July 15 Hostilian disappears from history—he may have died in an outbreak of plague. Eager to show himself competent and gain popularity with the citizens, Gallus swiftly dealt with the epidemic, providing burial for the victims.
253 was not a good year for Gallus. Persians pushed their way across Syria, Armenia, and Turkey and burned the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. The Celts north of Danube rose back up, and the Scythian tribes crossed the river and were once again on the loose behind the Roman border.
The Governor Aemillianus took initiative and defeated the invaders, much to the linking of the Legions. Since the army was no longer pleased with the Emperor, the soldiers proclaimed Aemilianus emperor. With a usurper, supported by Pauloctus, threatening the throne, Gallus prepared for a fight. He recalled several legions and ordered reinforcements to return to Rome from Gaul under the command of the future emperor Publius Licini Valerianus. Despite these dispositions, Aemilianus marched onto Italy ready to fight for his claim and caught Gallus at Terni before the arrival of Gallus’s son Valerianus and his reinforcements. What exactly happened there is not clear. Later sources claim that after an initial defeat, Gallus and Volusianus were murdered by their own troops, or Gallus did not have the chance to face Aemilianus at all because his army went over to the usurper. In any case, both Gallus and Volusianus were killed in August 253.
The weather was fantastic on Sunday, so drove out to my usual hunting ground and pulled this beauty out of the dirt. It was lying at the farthest point in my swing, and I just caught a bit of it - with a short broken bleep. A repeat swing over the target area revealed a soliud signal, VDI of 72 and heavy on the 2.5 Khz frequency. The coin was minted in Rome in 251 A.D. by emperor Trebonianus Gallus. The reverse shows the Roman goddess Libertas, the same goddess whom the American Statue of Liberty was modeled after.
Trebonianus Gallus AR (silver) Antoninianus. Rome mint: 251 AD.
Obverse: IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate draped bust right.
Reverse: LIBERTAS AVGG, Libertas standing left holding Pileus & Vindicta.
Libertas is seen here holding a PILEUS. The pileus was a brimless, felt cap worn in Ancient Greece and later also introduced in Ancient Rome. It was associated with the manumission of slaves who wore it upon their liberation, and became emblematic of liberty and freedom from bondage in classical antiquity. In Ancient Rome, a slave was freed in a ceremony in which a praetor touched the slave with a rod called a vindicta and pronounced him to be free. The slave's head was shaved and a pileus was placed upon it. Both the vindicta and the cap were considered symbols of Libertas, the goddess representing liberty.
IMP CAE C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG translates to “Imperatator Caesar Consul Trebonianus Gallus Augustus”.
LIBERTAS AVGG translates to “Liberty of the Emperors” - (Plural, for him and his co-emperor Hostilian.
Trebonianus Gallus
Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected ancestry of Etruscan senatorial background. He had two children Gaius Vibius Volusianus, later Emperor, and a daughter, Vibia Galla. While Governor of Moesia (the south bank of the Danube, from Serbia to Macedonia), Gallus was a key figure in repelling the frequent invasion attacks by the Gothic tribes of the Danube and became popular with the army, bolstered by his official image: military haircut, gladiatorial physique, intimidating stance. In June 251, the current emperor Decius died in the Battle of Abrittus at the hands of the Goths they were supposed to punish for raids into the empire. When the army heard the news, the soldiers proclaimed Gallus emperor, despite Hostilian, Decius' surviving son, ascending the imperial throne in Rome. Gallus did not back down from his intention to become emperor, but accepted Hostilian as co-emperor, perhaps to avoid the damage of another civil war. Gallus proclaimed his son Volusianus as Caesar, and he was appointed as such by the Senate.
Anxious to secure his position at Rome and stabilize the situation on the Danube frontier, Gallus made peace with the Goths. Peace terms allowed the Goths to leave the Roman territory while keeping their captives and plunder. In addition, it was agreed that they would be paid an annual subsidy. On June 24, 251, Decius was deified, but by July 15 Hostilian disappears from history—he may have died in an outbreak of plague. Eager to show himself competent and gain popularity with the citizens, Gallus swiftly dealt with the epidemic, providing burial for the victims.
253 was not a good year for Gallus. Persians pushed their way across Syria, Armenia, and Turkey and burned the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. The Celts north of Danube rose back up, and the Scythian tribes crossed the river and were once again on the loose behind the Roman border.
The Governor Aemillianus took initiative and defeated the invaders, much to the linking of the Legions. Since the army was no longer pleased with the Emperor, the soldiers proclaimed Aemilianus emperor. With a usurper, supported by Pauloctus, threatening the throne, Gallus prepared for a fight. He recalled several legions and ordered reinforcements to return to Rome from Gaul under the command of the future emperor Publius Licini Valerianus. Despite these dispositions, Aemilianus marched onto Italy ready to fight for his claim and caught Gallus at Terni before the arrival of Gallus’s son Valerianus and his reinforcements. What exactly happened there is not clear. Later sources claim that after an initial defeat, Gallus and Volusianus were murdered by their own troops, or Gallus did not have the chance to face Aemilianus at all because his army went over to the usurper. In any case, both Gallus and Volusianus were killed in August 253.
Friday, 7 November 2014
Early Bronze Age Axe Head and Sword
Finds by: Eric Soane
Pictures of the finds I brought into the office on Tuesday morning. 1and 2 are views of a piece of late Bronze Age sword about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, dating to around 1000 BC.
3 is an Early Bronze Age axe head. This is actually pre bronze being composed of pure copper and dates to 2500 BC to 2200 BC, around 4500 years old.
Pictures of the finds I brought into the office on Tuesday morning. 1and 2 are views of a piece of late Bronze Age sword about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, dating to around 1000 BC.
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| 1. Fragments of Late Bronze Age Sword |
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| 2. Fragements of Late Bronze Age Sword |
3 is an Early Bronze Age axe head. This is actually pre bronze being composed of pure copper and dates to 2500 BC to 2200 BC, around 4500 years old.
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| 3. Bronze Age Axe Head |
Wedding Ring lost in remote Highlands
A Story by:- Dan Young
I lost my wedding ring in a remote region of the Scottish highlands during a survival course. Everyone said “don’t bother trying to find it – it’s gone”.
Here is the area:
I couldn't shake the feeling that I could find it. On my return to London I stared researching the best metal detectors available. After a lot of research and some pointers from detectors societies, I called Angela at Whites in Inverness. It was perfect because Inverness was where my sleeper train arrives into, and where I was hiring a 4x4 to go look for my ring.
After reading about the products at White’s I wanted the M6.
This is the ground conditions in the general area I was searching:
I spent a lot of time before I started searching trying to think where it would have come off, and felt the most like was either in the cold river crossing exercises or when we were building our shelter (as I was taking my gloves on and off repeatedly). I felt the latter was most likely as my ring has a good snug fit. And besides if was in the river I was toast anyway.
After getting permission from the landowner I was all set. The big day started badly due with delays to some curious directions from Google and some road closures, I arrived at the search site 2 hours late with limited time to complete my search. The midges were out in force. This time I had 2 x head nets (yes – one fine mesh and one super fine. I needed both on)
After ground balancing I got a couple of pings and dug up some foil in an old fire. (it was nice to know the machine was working!)
After 24 minutes I got a clear ping and switched to pinpoint. With my hearth thumping I started to feel around in the boggy long grass. I couldn’t see anything so had to go by feel. After 30 seconds or so I felt something brush my right hand and fumbled around and found it! Was the best feeling!
Ring went straight onto my hand and hasn’t left it.
Thank you to Angela, James and the team at White’s Electronics in Inverness. Amazing service! The M6 is incredible.
The Glory of the Army
Story by: justinian
I went out Saturday on a short trip about an hour from my house to a hay field that had been recently harvested. The field wasn't plowed, so the going was not so great. But then the farmer showed up and told me that he was about to plow the field and said I could search behind him!
I was using the White's V3i, and the standard 10" DD coil. I hunt in relic mode, in stereo mixed mode. I tuned the machine to this specific area, using 3-frequencies, 7.5 Hz band-pass ground filter, RX gain of 8, Disc 82, and a recovery of 56. The tractor was quite loud so I had my V3i wireless headphones on which did a great job of blocking the noise.
Since the farmer didn't plow very deep, I was not expecting much, but I still managed to find an encrusted ancient coin. It took me almost three hours to carefully pick away the century's old dirt with a stereo microscope, but my patience paid off when I uncovered a perfectly preserved Roman bronze coin from the mid 4th century with it's lovely green patina fully intact (chemicals or brushing would have stripped the delicate patina and ruined the coin).
I was using the White's V3i, and the standard 10" DD coil. I hunt in relic mode, in stereo mixed mode. I tuned the machine to this specific area, using 3-frequencies, 7.5 Hz band-pass ground filter, RX gain of 8, Disc 82, and a recovery of 56. The tractor was quite loud so I had my V3i wireless headphones on which did a great job of blocking the noise.
Since the farmer didn't plow very deep, I was not expecting much, but I still managed to find an encrusted ancient coin. It took me almost three hours to carefully pick away the century's old dirt with a stereo microscope, but my patience paid off when I uncovered a perfectly preserved Roman bronze coin from the mid 4th century with it's lovely green patina fully intact (chemicals or brushing would have stripped the delicate patina and ruined the coin).
Obverse: CONSTANTIVS P F AVG with a diademed bust of Constantius II.
Reverse: GLORIA EXERCITVS with two soldiers, each holding a spear and shield, and one standard between them. The Christogram (ChiRho) appears at the top of the standard.
Reverse: GLORIA EXERCITVS with two soldiers, each holding a spear and shield, and one standard between them. The Christogram (ChiRho) appears at the top of the standard.
The coin is was minted in Siscia (Croatia) between 337 - 341 AD.
Constantius II (Latin: Flavius Julius Constantius Augustus was born in Sirmium (Serbia) on 7 August 317 and died 3 November 361. He was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361 AD. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne along with his two brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death. In 355, Constantius promoted his last surviving cousin, Julian, to the rank of Caesar. However, Julian claimed the rank of Augustus (Supreme Emperor) in 360, leading to war between the Julian and Constantius. Ultimately, no battle was fought as Constantius became feverish, and died late in 361, though not before naming Julian as his successor.
Gloria Exercitus translates to (The) Glory of the Army.
The back of the coin is interesting. It shows two soldiers, spears and shields in their hands, and a Roman military standard between them. On top of the standard is the Chi Rho symbol, one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is still used by some Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" (Christ) in such a way as to produce the monogram. Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus, as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ.
The back of the coin is interesting. It shows two soldiers, spears and shields in their hands, and a Roman military standard between them. On top of the standard is the Chi Rho symbol, one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is still used by some Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" (Christ) in such a way as to produce the monogram. Although not technically a Christian cross, the Chi-Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus, as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ.
After Constantine, the Chi-Rho became part of the official imperial insignia. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence demonstrating that the Chi-Rho was emblazoned on the helmets of some Late Roman soldiers. Other coins and medallions minted during Emperor Constantine's reign also bore the Chi-Rho. By the year 350, the Chi-Rho began to be used on Christian sarcophagi and frescoes. The Chi-Rho symbol was also used by pagan Greek scribes to mark, in the margin, a particularly valuable or relevant passage; the combined letters Chi and Rho standing for chrēston, meaning "good."
The labarum was a military standard that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol. It was first used by the Roman emperor Constantine I. Since the labarum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize crucifixion.
Constantius II died in the town of Mopsuestia, an ancient city on the Ceyhan River in modern-day Turkey. The ancient city is now a small village located approximately 10 mi east of Incirlik U.S. Air Force base near Adana, Turkey. I was stationed at that base in the mid 1980's and never would have dreamed that someday, while stationed at another post in Europe, that I would find a coin that connected these two distant assignments!
The labarum was a military standard that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol. It was first used by the Roman emperor Constantine I. Since the labarum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize crucifixion.
Constantius II died in the town of Mopsuestia, an ancient city on the Ceyhan River in modern-day Turkey. The ancient city is now a small village located approximately 10 mi east of Incirlik U.S. Air Force base near Adana, Turkey. I was stationed at that base in the mid 1980's and never would have dreamed that someday, while stationed at another post in Europe, that I would find a coin that connected these two distant assignments!
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