The Late Roman Solidus Hoard from Lienden (prov. Gelderland / NL)

A Window on Romano-Frankish Contacts in the Mid-5th Century Lower Rhine Region

Abstract

In 2012 and 2016 metal detector users discovered a Late Roman solidus hoard at »Den Eng« in the village of Lienden in the Dutch river area. A number of solidi found on the same plot of land in the mid-19^th century were probably part of the same hoard. The Lienden hoard, consisting of at least 42 coins, is of special importance as it represents the latest Roman coin hoard from the Lower Rhine region. The terminal coin is of emperor Majorian (457-461). We assume that this batch of gold coins entered the Dutch river area in about 460 and was buried shortly afterwards. The Lienden hoard is a unique document of the latest phase of Romano-Frankish interaction, for which written sources are extremely scarce. It may have belonged to a local Frankish leader who was part of the network of Majorian, his general Aegidius and the contemporary Frankish king Childeric I.