The Arras/Beaurains Hoard, 1922
The so-called Arras or Beaurains Hoard was found in a field in Pouvoir Dhée near Beaurains lès Arras, on September 21, 1922. It is estimated that some 700 coins were found, of which 100 were melted down, and of which 473 were identified by Pierre Bastien in 1977, and at least 233 coins from the hoard are now preserved in museums, worldwide. The hoard not only contained a large number of gold coins and medallions, but also jewels and silver.
In 1927 the Arras museum acquired the coins that belonged to the finder, but many items had been dispersed previously, and the landowner of the field kept her share of the find and sold it for 350,000 Francs to the dealer Etienne Bourgey (Paris). A large number of coins were sold privately by the workers and went to the dealer Charles Dupriez (Brussels) – who then sold a number to Bourgey in 1932. Bourgey rented the field for 1927-1930, in the hope of excavating some more, but found nothing.
The individual who buried this treasure in Northern France had probably been the recipient of several donatives: one in ad 285 when Diocletian occupied Italy, one in ad 294 when the Caesars celebrated their first consulate, and one in ad 297 when Constantius reconquered Britain. He probably also received imperial gifts: in ad 302, in ad 303 (twice), in ad 305 (twice), in ad 307, and finally in ad 310. Unfortunately, his identity remains a mystery.
In 1927 the Arras museum acquired the coins that belonged to the finder, but many items had been dispersed previously, and the landowner of the field kept her share of the find and sold it for 350,000 Francs to the dealer Etienne Bourgey (Paris). A large number of coins were sold privately by the workers and went to the dealer Charles Dupriez (Brussels) – who then sold a number to Bourgey in 1932. Bourgey rented the field for 1927-1930, in the hope of excavating some more, but found nothing.
The individual who buried this treasure in Northern France had probably been the recipient of several donatives: one in ad 285 when Diocletian occupied Italy, one in ad 294 when the Caesars celebrated their first consulate, and one in ad 297 when Constantius reconquered Britain. He probably also received imperial gifts: in ad 302, in ad 303 (twice), in ad 305 (twice), in ad 307, and finally in ad 310. Unfortunately, his identity remains a mystery.
Bibilio.: Hadrien J. Rambach, Provenance Glossary of Coins in the George W. LaBorde Collection (published over three auctions in NAC 91, 99 and 105); PHGCOM (image on "notable coin hoards page")