2016-08-26 Fri

In 2014, a 57-year-old metal detectorist named David Blakey, from Hartlepool, found the largest Roman coin hoard of 1,857 307 CE coins in north England when he was on his way back to his van for a bacon sandwich. Experts have valued them at more than £44,000 ($58,000) and have stated that the coins probably belong to Constantine the Great, who lived in York during the 3rd Century. The coins are on display at the Yorkshire Museum until October and efforts are on to raise funds for keeping the collection there permanently.

The coins depict Constantius and Constantine, Augustus after he was made emperor in York. Experts believe that the huge hoard is the first of its kind in the area and speaks a lot about York's Roman history.

Constantius died in the city and Constantine came into power. At this time different Roman powers challenged Constantine position. Augustus came into power in 306 CE in Eboracum (York) after the death of his father, Constantine. He reigned as the emperor from 306 to 337CE. During his reign, he minted new coins to fight inflation. He also developed ‘New Rome’ in the city of Byzantium, which was renamed to Constantinople. Constantine was known for uniting the east and west portions of the empire by 324CE.