Gold for the Barbarians? Uniface Gold Medallions of the House of Constantine Found in Britain and Ireland

Abstract

AbstractThe paper discusses a hitherto neglected group of five uniface gold medallions in the names of Constantine I and II, issued betweenc.a.d.318 and 337, found in Britain and Ireland. These have been found either beyond the frontier (three examples are from Ireland and one from Scotland) or close to it (one example is from Cumbria). It is suggested that they may have been produced as diplomatic gifts for peoples beyond the frontier or as payment forlaeti.