Lost or Unprovenanced? The Suggested Fate of an Important Archaeological Discovery (an Aureus of Trajan) from Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum)

In 1770 an aureus of the Emperor Trajan was found by the north wall of the churchyard at Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum). This was a very important archaeological discovery as contemporary antiquarian reports provide a clear description of the coin in addition to detailing the precise find spot. Subsequently the aureus disappeared from the historical record but, in this note, historical and numismatic evidence is presented suggesting that an unprovenanced coin now in the British Museum - R.7569 - is the lost Aldborough aureus.

Automated summary

In 1770, a gold coin of Emperor Trajan was discovered near the north wall of the churchyard at Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum). This archaeological finding is significant because contemporary records provide a detailed description of the coin and its exact location. Although the coin disappeared from historical records, this note presents historical and numismatic evidence suggesting that the unprovenanced coin in the British Museum - R.7569 - is the lost Aldborough aureus.