Descoperiri monetare la Histria – Sectorul Sud (2013–2017)
Monetary discoveries at Histria – South Sector (2013–2017)

Summary/Abstract: During the 2013–2017 systematic research undertaken in the South Sector of the archaeological site Histria, 85 coins were collected, out of which 68 pieces (80%) were identified. The excavations have been focused on the northwest boundary of the sector, corresponding to the western part of the enclosure and the compartments of an important edifice identified since 2011–2012. The size of the coin batch indicates a certain dynamic of monetary presence in an area probably intensely inhabited in the Roman Histria between the second half of the 2nd century AD and the end of the Tetrarchy. Due to the restriction of the fortified enclosure and implicitly of the urban area during the Late Roman Empire, the area of the great edifice was abandoned to the extra muros zone and was overlapped by two levels of necropolis. The 68 coins are chronologically distributed as follows: six coins from the Greek period, 40 coins from the period of Principate (seven denars, 18 antoninians, one sestertius, one dupondius, 13 provincial coins), 16 Late Roman coins and six Byzantine coins from the 6th century AD. Along with monetary issues already documented in the finds at Histria, there are also rarities such as: a coin from the late period of the city's autonomy, bearing an uncommon countermark (No. 6); Istrian coins by Antoninus Pius and Caracalla, of less known types (Nos. 8 and 13), respectively a pseudo‐autonomous coin with the ICTPI legend engraved in an unusual way (No. 14); a piece of 4 assaria of Nicopolis ad Istrum, with a type of reverse not yet documented for the time when L. Aurelius Gallus was governor of Moesia Inferior, more precisely 202–205 AD (No. 12); the single one antoninianus from Gordian III so far registered at Histria (No. 27); an antoninianus issued by Vabalathus (No. 38). The structure of the batch generally confirms the previous remarks – occasioned by the publication of the first batch of coins in 2014 – about the monetary presence in the southern area of Histria. Most of the coins were found in a secondary position, with no stratigraphic significance. Exceptions are made by some pieces found in the debris of the walls and on the treading level of the excavated building, at least 16 of which could constitute chronological points of reference. The numismatic material indicates a hypothetical building of the great edifice, probably of public utility, in the first part of the 3rd century AD. After a possible destruction by fire during the “Scythian War”, it was probably partially rebuilt during the reigns of Aurelian or Probus and functioned until the beginning of the second decade of the 4th century AD, when it was finally devastated, apparently in the course of another fire. The coins sporadically penetrated later do not testify the habitation of the area but are related rather to the funerals during the second half of the 4th century AD and later. For a general overview, the full list of the coin finds at Histria – South Sector is attached.

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