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Matthew Ball

@matthewball.bsky.social

Roman coins for @findsorguk.bsky.social at the British Museum. All ill-informed opinions my own. Vice-President of the Royal Numismatic Society. Roman Britain, poking around medieval churches, gardening, and drawing.

1,067 Followers  |  376 Following  |  64 Posts  |  Joined: 15.11.2024  |  2.0425

Latest posts by matthewball.bsky.social on Bluesky

WeTransfer just changed their TOS giving themselves permission to train AI on any content you transfer and produce derivative works based on content you transfer that they are allowed to monetize and you are not allowed payment for.

Stop using WeTransfer.

14.07.2025 23:05 β€” πŸ‘ 7653    πŸ” 5360    πŸ’¬ 132    πŸ“Œ 475
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This Roman denarius of Septimius Severus shows the emperor in military attire on horseback. It proclaims 'the most auspicious return of the emperor' after having established peace in the east by the destruction of Pescennius Niger. #FindsFriday finds.org.uk/database/art...

20.06.2025 07:30 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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RNS seeks two freelancers for Administration and Archive projects The Royal Numismatic Society, which is currently advertising two new freelancer opportunities: Administrator Archive assistant Both are to cover a one-year project to get our records and administr…

Please share!

The Royal Numismatic Society is seeking two freelancers to work on its administration and archives. Both positions are part-time for one year, based in London. No archival qualifications or experience necessary.

Further details on our website: numismatics.org.uk/2025/06/16/r...

16.06.2025 10:33 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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1,800 years ago, someone snipped the edge of this denarius, discovered it was just a silver-plated forgery, and then vented their rage on the poor coin itself by repeatedly hacking its surface. Recorded with @findsorguk.bsky.socialΒ this week: finds.org.uk/database/art... #FindsFriday #RomanBritain

06.06.2025 07:23 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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*Is* there a nicer flower than a lupin? β˜€οΈ

18.05.2025 12:01 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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One of the very few images of Amminus, an #IronAge ruler from the area of Kent, who might have been the person #Suetonius tells us fled across the Channel to seek aid from #Caligula c. AD 40. This is the first example recorded with @findsorguk.bsky.social #FindsFriday
finds.org.uk/database/art...

09.05.2025 12:21 β€” πŸ‘ 26    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

(My views on the merits of retributive corporal punishment for heritage offences are mine and not those of my employer, although they should be).

09.05.2025 12:07 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

They deserve a good beating, at the very least, if for no other reason than they were thick enough to film it and take pictures.

09.05.2025 12:00 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Carpets of English bluebells on the slopes of the Wrekin in #Shropshire.

03.05.2025 17:14 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A heap of radiates struck for Tetricus I (AD 271-274) at Trier, Germany. From the massive Frome hoard of c 54,000 other third century coins, now in the final stages of being sorted at the British Museum. @findsorguk.bsky.social #FindsFriday #RomanBritain

02.05.2025 07:49 β€” πŸ‘ 31    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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#FindsFriday today with a lovely counterfeit Roman coin!
A copper-alloy cast contemporary copy of a Roman denarius of Diva Faustina I (AD 138-161), struck under Antoninus Pius, dating to the period c. AD 141-161
To see the full record, follow the link: finds.org.uk/database/art...

11.04.2025 16:25 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Excellent! Look forward to seeing it, and thank you for recording.

28.03.2025 18:08 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Melsonby Hoard is one of the UK's most significant Iron Age finds & could rewrite what we know about the period. Help the Yorkshire Museum acquire & conserve the hoard, keeping it in a public collection. #FindsFriday #SaveTheMelsonbyHoard Donate today: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-the-m...

28.03.2025 08:30 β€” πŸ‘ 105    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

That’s a lovely coin β€” looks more like it’s copying an early issue of Trajan to me: IMP NERVA CAES TRAIAN AVG GERM. It would be great to have it recorded on PAS database if not already.

28.03.2025 08:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A white marble table leg in the form of a lion head and descending into a claw as the foot. The view is from above and since there is no table top the inscription of P. Casca Long can be seen engraved into the table top support.

A white marble table leg in the form of a lion head and descending into a claw as the foot. The view is from above and since there is no table top the inscription of P. Casca Long can be seen engraved into the table top support.

View across an atrium of the so-called House of Casca Longus (he never lived here!). To the left a blue painted wall. In the centre-right an impluvium basin with a circular ceramic cistern head. On the far side the white marble tripod table support.

View across an atrium of the so-called House of Casca Longus (he never lived here!). To the left a blue painted wall. In the centre-right an impluvium basin with a circular ceramic cistern head. On the far side the white marble tripod table support.

One of the most remarkable objects in #Pompeii is a marble table support with P. Casca Longus inscribed on it. Longus was the 1st assassin to stab Julius Caesar on the #IdesOfMarch (today in 44 BC). On his death Longus’ possessions were auctioned & this table was bought by a Pompeian

15.03.2025 17:37 β€” πŸ‘ 518    πŸ” 168    πŸ’¬ 10    πŸ“Œ 5
The ruins of an underground chamber, now roofless, with a paved stone floor.

The ruins of an underground chamber, now roofless, with a paved stone floor.

The ruins of an underground chamber, now roofless, with a paved stone floor and a flight of stone steps running down into it.

The ruins of an underground chamber, now roofless, with a paved stone floor and a flight of stone steps running down into it.

This is the strongroom in the headquarters building of the Roman fort at Corbridge, just south of Hadrian's Wall. Corbridge was a base for the Second Legion Augusta and the money to pay the troops who garrisoned the Wall would have been stored down in this underground chamber #RomanFortThursday

13.03.2025 08:43 β€” πŸ‘ 87    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Agnus… (stupid, non-Christocentric autocorrect)

07.03.2025 21:46 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A mass produced Angus Dei pendant of the late 19th or early 20th century. Sometimes they’re engraved on the reverse by the people who gave them out. C R = Christus Rex?

07.03.2025 21:44 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
A grey tombstone with a crude Latin inscription, broken into two fragments in the middle, held by metal supports and on a blank black background

A grey tombstone with a crude Latin inscription, broken into two fragments in the middle, held by metal supports and on a blank black background

"Killed by enemies inside the fort" says this tombstone of a father and son, Flavius Fuscinus and Flavius Romanus, who died at Ambleside, Cumbria #RomanFortThursday

Excavations show Ambleside was attacked at least once - did these men die in its defence?

πŸ“ΈArmitt Trust #archaeology #photooftheday 🏺

06.03.2025 08:02 β€” πŸ‘ 67    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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National Trust raises fees to Β£3,000 for family life memberships Charity squeezes an extra 25pc from members over three years

National Trust membership for a family costs Β£14.05 a month. A Telegraph subscription costs Β£104 a month. And don’t get me started on the quality of the product.

05.03.2025 17:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1248    πŸ” 261    πŸ’¬ 41    πŸ“Œ 5
A close-up of the wall painting

A close-up of the wall painting

A picture taken in the banquet hall, showing columns and wall paintings

A picture taken in the banquet hall, showing columns and wall paintings

Exceptional new discovery in
#Pompeii: large frescoed banquet hall with stunning wall paintings emerged

www.finestresullarte.info/en/archaeolo...

🏺 AncientBluesky #archaeology

26.02.2025 20:27 β€” πŸ‘ 560    πŸ” 145    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 10
View across the site, taken on a cold clear winter's day. A cross-shaped channel hypocaust is in the foreground, while low stone walls forming the footings of the west wing stretch away to a modern mosaic cover building.

View across the site, taken on a cold clear winter's day. A cross-shaped channel hypocaust is in the foreground, while low stone walls forming the footings of the west wing stretch away to a modern mosaic cover building.

#RomanSiteSaturday: A huge courtyard villa flourished at North Leigh, Oxfordshire, in the early C.4th. It's one of the largest discovered from #RomanBritain with 60 rooms, 11 hypocausts (channelled type), 16 mosaic floors and 3 bath suites.
#romanarchaeology

22.02.2025 09:53 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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The finds trays are working overtime at the Carlisle Roman Excavations this week. Here the destruction level is being removed to reveal the Hypocaust stacks. The site is open for visits except Sunday till the 1st March #HadriansWall #Archaeology

20.02.2025 11:35 β€” πŸ‘ 42    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

a reminder that the Royal Numismatic Society runs a series of small grants for research and/or practice which deploys the outcomes of research in various areas of numismatics. The next deadline is 28th February - find out more and apply here: numismatics.org.uk/grants/

17.02.2025 17:55 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The foundations of a circular Roman mausoleum. Its stones are covered in lichen and there is grass growing out of the top.

The foundations of a circular Roman mausoleum. Its stones are covered in lichen and there is grass growing out of the top.

A relief carving on one of the stones of the mausoleum which resembles the head of a horned animal.

A relief carving on one of the stones of the mausoleum which resembles the head of a horned animal.

High on a Northumberland hillside near the Roman fort of Bremenium and the ancient road we call Dere Street are the remains of a mausoleum. It is probably the finally resting place of a high-raking Roman soldier and a couple of its stones still feature enigmatic carvings #TombTuesday

18.02.2025 09:49 β€” πŸ‘ 139    πŸ” 22    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Digital reconstruction illustration of Rough Castle Roman Fort near Falkirk in Scotland. This image shows the barracks, Principia, Horrea, and the Praetorium. The bath house is in the annexe, in the top-left corner of the image. Commissioned Work. Β© Bob Marshall / Historic Environment Scotland 2014.

Digital reconstruction illustration of Rough Castle Roman Fort near Falkirk in Scotland. This image shows the barracks, Principia, Horrea, and the Praetorium. The bath house is in the annexe, in the top-left corner of the image. Commissioned Work. Β© Bob Marshall / Historic Environment Scotland 2014.

One of my oldie reconstructions from 2014 of Rough Castle Roman Fort & Antonine Wall, near Falkirk in #Scotland. It shows the barracks, Principia, Horrea, and the Praetorium. The bath house is in the annexe, in the top-left corner. Commissioned Work. Β© Bob Marshall / Historic Environment Scotland.

13.02.2025 16:13 β€” πŸ‘ 80    πŸ” 15    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 2
The standing stone of Maen Madoc in the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Powys

A Bronze Age menhir reused in the 5th / 6th century AD as a grave marker

The standing stone of Maen Madoc in the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons Powys A Bronze Age menhir reused in the 5th / 6th century AD as a grave marker

The mighty Maen Madoc, Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons #Powys

A Bronze Age menhir reused as a grave marker and inscribed in the late 5th or early 6th century AD with

DERVAC(IVS) FILIVS IVSTI (H)IC IACIT

Dervacus, Son of Justus. Lies here

πŸ“· Aug 2020

#StandingStoneSunday 1/2

16.02.2025 08:14 β€” πŸ‘ 219    πŸ” 31    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 0
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Nothing special β€” only the oldest known example of the name β€˜London’ in existence. Circa AD 70. β€˜Londinio Mogontio’ (To Mogontius in London). #romansitesaturday

15.02.2025 18:55 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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HOW has it taken me this long to see the wonderful (and free!) exhibition of the Bloomberg finds? assets.bbhub.io/company/site... #romansitesaturday #romanbritain

15.02.2025 18:55 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

A little late to this, but very happy to help in any way I can.

15.02.2025 18:44 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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