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Journals / PROPONTICA / 2026 / Cilt: 4 Sayı: 8

A Roman Imperial Denarius Hoard from Southwestern Crimea in the State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals

Mikhail Abramzon(Institute of Archaeology, Russian Academy of Sciences)0000-0001-6111-048X
Journal
PROPONTICA
Pages
217–254
Publication Date
2026-10-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The hoard, which belonged to a soldier or was part of the military treasury, arrived in Taurica together with a detachment redeployed there from Lower Moesia in AD 236.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This is the publication of a significant hoard of Roman Imperial denarii from southwestern Crimea from the collection of the well-known Russian archaeologist Nikolai .K.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Minko (1880 – after 1920), stored in the State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals, Chelyabinsk.
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Conclusion & Impact:The hoard, which belonged to a soldier or was part of the military treasury, arrived in Taurica together with a detachment redeployed there from Lower Moesia in AD 236.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:289 specimens
⚙️Variables:southwestern Crimea · Cersonesus Taurica · Roman denarius hoards

Abstract

This is the publication of a significant hoard of Roman Imperial denarii from southwestern Crimea from the collection of the well-known Russian archaeologist Nikolai .K. Minko (1880 – after 1920), stored in the State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals, Chelyabinsk. Initially, the hoard comprised 351 denarii. The surviving portion (289 specimens) generally covers the period from Nero to Maximinus I, including also a denarius of Vibius Pansa from 48 BC and a Dacian plated bronze copy of a denarius of Pinarius Natta from 149 BC. Imperial denarii are as follows: Nero – 1 specimen, Vespasian – 1, Domitian – 8, Trajan – 1, Hadrian – 67, Antoninus Pius – 44, Faustina the Elder – 13, Marcus Aurelius – 28, Lucius Verus – 11, Faustina II – 1, Lucilla – 2, Commodus – 6, Septimius Severus – 23, Julia Domna – 45, Caracalla – 3, Geta – 9, Elagabalus – 1, Julia Maesa – 2, Alexander Severus – 9, Orbiana – 2, Julia Mamaea – 7, Maximinus I – 11. Apart of the official issues, the hoard includes imitative Republican and Imperial denarii, counterfeits, as well as so-called ‘limes denarii’ (limesfalsae) made in Moesian limes workshops. The hoard, which belonged to a soldier or was part of the military treasury, arrived in Taurica together with a detachment redeployed there from Lower Moesia in AD 236.

Özet

This is the publication of a significant hoard of Roman Imperial denarii from southwestern Crimea from the collection of the well-known Russian archaeologist Nikolai .K. Minko (1880 – after 1920), stored in the State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals, Chelyabinsk. Initially, the hoard comprised 351 denarii. The surviving portion (289 specimens) generally covers the period from Nero to Maximinus I, including also a denarius of Vibius Pansa from 48 BC and a Dacian plated bronze copy of a denarius of Pinarius Natta from 149 BC. Imperial denarii are as follows: Nero – 1 specimen, Vespasian – 1, Domitian – 8, Trajan – 1, Hadrian – 67, Antoninus Pius – 44, Faustina the Elder – 13, Marcus Aurelius – 28, Lucius Verus – 11, Faustina II – 1, Lucilla – 2, Commodus – 6, Septimius Severus – 23, Julia Domna – 45, Caracalla – 3, Geta – 9, Elagabalus – 1, Julia Maesa – 2, Alexander Severus – 9, Orbiana – 2, Julia Mamaea – 7, Maximinus I – 11. Apart of the official issues, the hoard includes imitative Republican and Imperial denarii, counterfeits, as well as so-called ‘limes denarii’ (limesfalsae) made in Moesian limes workshops. The hoard, which belonged to a soldier or was part of the military treasury, arrived in Taurica together with a detachment redeployed there from Lower Moesia in AD 236.

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Cite This Article

Abramzon, M. (2026). A Roman Imperial Denarius Hoard from Southwestern Crimea in the State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals. PROPONTICA, Cilt: 4 Sayı: 8, 217–254. https://doi.org/10.56170/propontica.1976167

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