Archaeologists have uncovered a crime nearly 1,700 years after it was committed.
A dig has revealed a number of moulds which would have been used to create fake Roman coins – an offence that was punishable by crucifixion.
During a time of crisis in the Western Roman Empire of the 260s, hyper-inflation meant people had to resort to forging coins to keep up with the rising costs.
Official coins were minted rather than moulded.
So moulds, particularly intact ones like the ones found in Castleford, West Yorkshire, are extraordinarily rare.
But researchers found more than 100 pieces in one pit.
This means the culprit likely buried the evidence, successfully concealing the crime for well over a millennium.
A dig has revealed a number of moulds which would have been used to create fake Roman coins – an offence that was punishable by crucifixion
The find was revealed on the BBC archaeology series Digging for Britain
The find was revealed on the BBC archaeology series Digging for Britain.
David Williams, who led the dig, said: ‘There were sanctioned mints and we’re not near one at all.
‘It’s a bit of a mystery really – really unexpected.’