- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Rusted currency-bar of iron. [MJD 24/02/2010]
- Long description
- Rusted currency-bar of iron. The bar is flat and slightly narrower at one end. At the other end of the bar the sides curve towards each other, to create a socket-like shape. [MJD 24/02/2010]
- Geographical reference
- England Gloucestershire Cotswold Bourton-on-the-Water Salmondsbury Camp
- Date / Period
- Archaeological period: Iron Age
- Date collected
- By 1919
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1919
- Materials and processes
- Material Iron Metal, Process Forged (Metal)
- Dimensions
- Width: max 40 mm, Length 798 mm, Weight 613 g
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1919.15.1
- Research and responses
The find of a hoard of 147 currency bars was made on 23 October 1860 during digging in the in area of the north-east rampart of Salmondsbury Camp. See report by JY Akerman 1861. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of London 1: 233-4 [Dan Hicks 6/3/2017]
J. Y. AKERMAN, Esq. F.S.A. exhibited and presented to the Society a barbed Arrow-Head of iron, 3'' inches long, and resembling the pheon of heraldry.
Mr. Akerman also communicated a drawing of an iron object found recently in Gloucestershire, accompanied by the following remarks:—
" On, the 23rd of October last, as some men were digging gravel at a spot called ' The Camp,' supposed to have been an old Roman entrenchment, at Bourton-on-the-Water, near Stow-on-the-Wold, they came upon a number of sword-blades, placed carefully together, about one and a-half feet beneath the surface. They are all in good preservation, and, though covered with rust, show good metal beneath on the application of the file. Mr. James Ashwin, the owner of the land on which this
discovery was made, promptly and kindly replied to my inquiries respecting it; and, at my request, sent me an outline of one of these objects, which appears to be 2 feet 7 1/4 inches long, and about 1 1/2 inches wide; the edges are blunt, and at the upper end the metal is curled up, so as to form a very rude tang. You will perceive at a glance that they are similar in construction to other objects that have been found in England. The latest example was that exhibited by me to the Society on the 15th of April, 1858, said to have been found at Blandford, Dorsetshire, although I think it cannot be classed with the other weapons found at that place. The pattern sent herewith appears to me to be designed for a cut and thrust sword of the seventeenth century, roughly prepared for the finish of the. armourer. Mr. Ashwin states that they were all found closely together, and that the total number of blades is 147." [Dan Hicks 6/3/2017]
Full name of C.J. Parker located in the Donor Index cards at the Ashmolean Museum, Department of Antiquities. James Parker is his father. [L.Ph 25/3/2004]
Full references (of some of the references in the accession book): Oxford Architectural and Historical Society. 1860. Proceedings 1:3 (where it is referred to as a Roman spear-head); Akerman, J.Y. 1860. ‘Notes on an iron object found recently in Gloucestershire’ Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries 1:233-234. The hoard of bars is also discussed by Smith, W.G. 1915a. ‘Currency bar of a new denomination, from Salmonsbury Camp, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire’ Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries 27:69-76. [CB 8/12/2009]
1919.15.1
Rusted currency-bar of iron. [MJD 24/02/2010]
On display
1919.15.1
Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
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