The Wold Newton coin hoard was discovered in 2014. It was hidden in the ground around AD 307, and is one of the largest of this period in the whole of the UK. This talk will explore the time of its burial, a crucial period in the history of the Roman Empire, and Yorkshire’s place within it. The focus will be on Constantius, the Roman Emperor who died in York in AD 306, and his son, Constantine the Great. The talk will argue that the hoard was buried at a crucial point in the life, death and careers of the two emperors, giving us an insight into life in Roman Yorkshire at the time.

Our speaker Dr. Andrew Woods is the energetic and enthusiastic Senior Curator for the Yorkshire Museum. He is responsible for the archaeological and natural science teams at the museum. His area of expertise is money and medals, particularly the interpretation of coinage and hoards. Andrew’s education saw degrees in history and archaeology, culminating in a doctorate in archaeology from the University of Cambridge, awarded for a study of coinage in the Viking Age. His career includes spells with the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.