217 Arheološki vestnik 71, 2020, 217–231; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AV.71.06
In about five centuries of life in Viminacium, 
several necropolises were formed, which are gener-
ally divided according to the cardinal points, and in 
relation to the position of the legionary camp and 
civilian settlements (Fig. 1). T o date, the southern, 
eastern and north-eastern necropolises have been 
archaeologically confirmed and, to a large extent, 
investigated, while definitive evidence of the exis-
tence of northern and western necropolises await 
future research.
1
 Due to the construction of the 
1
  Individual graves have been discovered north and 
west of the city and the camp starting from the end of the 
19
th
 century, but these sites have not yet been systemati-
Kostolac 2 thermal power plant, large-scale rescue 
archaeological investigations were conducted be-
tween 1977 and 1990 in the area comprising the 
southern necropolises.
2
 Within this area, nine 
necropolises were recorded, five of which belong 
cally investigated. In 1882, Mihailo Valtrović conducted 
trial trenching south, north and east of the city and the 
camp, in the course of which graves were noted in all the 
locations. He concluded that there were graves also west 
of the city, based on the remains of graves that peasants 
were robbing at the time (cf. Valtrović, 1884, 6, 10).
2
  Zotović 1986, 41; Zotović, Jordović 1990, 2; Korać, 
Golubović 2009, 12–13.
A hoard of solidi from a hypogeum 
at the Viminacium necropolis – Pećine (Serbia)
Zakladna najdba solidov iz hipogeuma 
z viminacijske nekropole Pećine (Srbija)
Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
Izvleček
Pri novejših zaščitnih arheoloških raziskavah južnih viminacijskih grobišč je bila leta 2016 na nekropoli Pećine v eni 
od raziskanih monumentalnih grobnic (G 5868) odkrita zakladna najdba sedmih solidov. Zaklad vsebuje novce Hono-
rija in Teodozija II., ki so bili kovani med letoma 403 in 408 oziroma 430 in 440. Poleg zaklada je bilo v memoriji, ki 
je bila žal izropana že v antiki, odkritih še 23 posamičnih novcev iz časa od Aleksandra Severa (222–235) do začetka 
5. stoletja. Zaščitna arheološka izkopavanja na območju južnih grobišč potekajo z nekaj prekinitvami že od konca se-
demdesetih let prejšnjega stoletja. Ta zakladna najdba zlatih novcev pa je v obdobju štiridesetih let šele druga te vrste 
z vseh viminacijskih nekropol.
Ključne besede: Viminacium; Pećine; rimsko obdobje; nekropola; zakladna novčna najdba; hypogeum
Abstract
During more recent rescue archaeological investigations of the southern necropolises of Viminacium, in 2016, at the 
necropolis of Pećine, a hoard of seven solidi was discovered in one of the investigated monumental tombs (G 5868). The 
hoard contains coins of Honorius and Theodosius II, ranging from 403/408–430/440. Within the memoria, which was 
unfortunately robbed as far back as Antiquity, besides the hoard, an additional 23 coins, ranging from Alexander Severus 
(222–235) to the beginning of the 5
th
 century, were also discovered. Rescue investigations in the area of the southern 
necropolises have been conducted, with interruptions, since the late 1970s and, over the course of four decades, this 
is merely the second discovery of gold coins, not only at the southern necropolis, but also at other investigated ones.
Keywords: Viminacium; Pećine necropolis; Roman Empire; coin hoard; hypogeum

218 Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
to the time of Roman domination, from the mid-
1
st
 to the first decades of the 5
th
 century.
3
 The two 
earliest necropolises are Više Grobalja and part of 
the Pećine necropolis, established in the mid-1
st
 
century, where cremation and inhumation burials 
were simultaneously practised. The change in the 
funerary rituals, which occurred around the mid-
3
rd
 century, led to the abandonment of these two 
cemetery grounds.
4
 A separate necropolis, also 
at the site of Pećine, consisted solely of crema-
tion burials, with the exception of some graves 
containing the inhumed remains of children. This 
necropolis was formed at the turn of the 1
st
 and 
the 2
nd
 centuries and was used until the mid-3
rd
 
3
  The earliest necropolis belongs to the Celtic popula-
tion that lived here in the late 4
th
 and the early 3
rd
 century 
BC, whereas two later necropolises belong to the Migration 
Period: the Ostrogothic, used in the second half of the 
5
th
 century, and the Gepidic, from the mid-6
th
 century. 
The latest is a small medieval necropolis, roughly dated 
between the 12
th
 and 14
th
 century (cf. Zotović 1986, 41, 
ref. 4; 54–55; Zotović, Jordović 1990, 2).
4 
 Zotović 1986, 42–45; Zotović, Jordović 1990, 1–34; 
Korać, Golubović 2009, 12–13, ref. 15–17.
century. The cremation ritual was abandoned at 
the southern necropolises of Viminacium in the 
mid-3
rd
 century and, from that point onward, 
inhumation represented the only form of burial. 
At that time, two additional necropolises were 
established in the southern area, Burdelj, and the 
third necropolis at the site of Pećine, the first of 
which was in use until the mid-4
th
 century and the 
second until the first decades of the 5
th
 century.
5
In the course of the aforementioned rescue 
investigations conducted in the 1970s and ‘80s, at 
the necropolises of Više Grobalja and Pećine alone, 
a total of 10,769 cremation and inhumation graves 
were discovered, while a total of 7,026 coins were 
recorded.
6
 Of this number, only four gold coins 
(three solidi and one semissis) of Valentinian I 
were discovered in one grave at the necropolis of 
5 
 This necropolis at the site of Pećine overlaps the terri-
tory of the earlier and already abandoned necropolises with 
cremation and inhumation burials (cf. Zotović 1986, 52).
6 
 The necropolis of Više Grobalja: 2,213 inhumations, 
1,776 cremations, 3,161 coins; the necropolis of Pećine: 5,626 
inhumations, 1,154 cremations, 3,865 coins (cf. Vojvoda, 
Mrđić 2015, 9; Vojvoda, Mrđić 2017, 9–10).
Fig. 1: General situation at the site Viminacium.
Sl. 1: Situacijski načrt najdišča Viminacij.

219 A hoard of solidi from a hypogeum at the Viminacium necropolis – Pećine (Serbia)
Pećine, which were, unfortunately, stolen from the 
National Museum in Požarevac (Narodni muzej 
Požarevac).
7
 Based on the fieldwork documentation,
8
 
one of the solidi was issued by the mint of Antioch 
and is dated to 364,
9
 while another is from the 
mint of Treveri and is dated to 367–375.
10
 Besides 
the aforementioned gold coins discovered during 
the archaeological investigations, an additional 
seven aurei and solidi from the surroundings of 
Viminacium are kept at the National Museum in 
Požarevac.
11
Due to the need to build a number of facilities 
for different purposes within the TPP Kostolac, 
since 2007, new rescue investigations have been 
carried out within the southern necropolises of 
Viminacium, at the sites of Više Grobalja and 
Pećine, which are still in progress. To date, 529 
graves and 326 coins have been discovered.
12
 In 
the course of these investigations, gold coins have 
been recorded only in a monumental underground 
tomb (G 5868),
13
 which was discovered in July 2016. 
Unfortunately, the tomb was robbed in Antiquity; 
however, based on the remaining finds, mainly 
7
  This was the grave of an individual interred without a 
coffin (G 5571), laid on the back, with the arms crossed on 
the pelvis. After lifting the skeleton, under the left half of 
the pelvis, four gold coins of V alentinian I were discovered 
(field inv. C - 13391–13394). These were the only grave 
goods in the grave (cf. Documentation of the Institute of 
Archaeology in Belgrade, Fieldwork diary: 3761, 3763).
8
  At that time, cards of the field inventories contained 
a drawing of an object. For two solidi (C - 1392 and 1394), 
there are drawings of the obverse and the reverse, from 
which it was possible to identify the specimens based on 
the reference catalogue. Unfortunately, for the other two 
specimens (C - 1391 and 1393), only drawings of the 
obverse exist.
9
  Av. DN V ALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, Rv. RESTITV-
TOR – REI PVBLICAE, ex - ANTΘ•, RIC IX, p. 272, no. 2b.
10
  Av. DN V ALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, Rv. VICTOR-
IA AVGG, ex - TR•OB•, RIC IX, p. 16, no. 17b.
11
  Closer surroundings of Viminacium: Biskuplje 
(Constantine I), Dobra (Claudius I), Zabela, Požarevac 
(Trajan), Toponica (Severus Alexander), Veliko Gradište 
(Valentinian I); wider surroundings of Viminacium: 
Žagubica (Theodosius I), Melnica, Petrovac (Theodosius 
II). The museum owns an additional two specimens with 
an unknown place of finding: Titus, Leo II. Kind thanks are 
due to our colleague T eodora Branković from the National 
Museum in Požarevac for the data provided.
12
  The necropolis of Više Grobalja: 97 inhumations, 
59 cremations, 117 coins; the necropolis of Pećine: 328 
inhumations, 45 cremations, 209 coins.
13
  In the fieldwork documentation, the tomb was marked 
as G 5868 (Documentation of the Institute of Archaeology 
in Belgrade, Fieldwork diary).
coins, the time of its construction, as well as the 
second phase of construction works undertaken 
in the tomb, can be roughly chronologically de-
termined. This monumental family tomb belongs 
to the sequence of those discovered at Pećine, but 
about 450 m south of the other 13, investigated in 
the 1970s and ‘80s, which are concentrated in the 
northern section of the then excavated part of the 
Pećine necropolis.
14
These are the remains of a Late Antique under-
ground tomb (hypogeum) of a cruciform base, with 
an entrance staircase (dromos) on the southern 
side and four rooms (Fig. 2). The central room has 
a square base, around which three burial rooms 
with rectangular bases are arranged (west, north 
and east). Each of the three side rooms contains 
three graves (loculus), while another two loculi 
are located east and west of the staircase. Some 
of the loculi bear traces of secondary burials (re-
sealing of the opening), but osteological remains 
were found only in the loculi west and east of the 
staircase.
15
 Two phases in the construction of the 
tomb were noted. The flooring of the earlier one 
had a brick rubble base and was probably covered 
with hexagonal or butterfly-shaped bricks. The 
loculi belong to the early construction phase, 
because, in addition to architectural elements, 
fresco decoration painted on the walls in the ear-
lier phase further supports this assertion as they 
can be traced to the early flooring. Not long after 
that, the central room was covered with a 40 cm 
thick layer of soil,
16
 onto which a new flooring of 
rectangular bricks was laid. The frescoes, which 
remained above the new flooring, were plastered 
with lime mortar at that time. The hoard of seven 
solidi was discovered directly under one of the 
bricks of the newer flooring (Fig. 2: C - 14125), 
in the northwest corner of the central room, near 
14
  Of the 13 monumental tombs previously discovered 
at Pećine, five were aboveground (G 2624, G 2651, G 5260, 
G 5336), one of which had a semi-circular apse (G 3238), 
and eight underground (hypogeum type), four of which had 
a rectangular base (G 3904, G 3953, G 3971, G 4006), two 
with an incomplete cross-shaped base (with three arms) 
(G 4767, G 4815) and two with a cruciform base (G 4816, 
G 5035) (cf. Milošević-Jevtić 2014, 324, Fig. 2).
15
  In the loculus west of the staircase (labelled as K), 
four skulls and a small number of other bones were dis-
covered, while in the loculus east of the staircase (labelled 
as J), remains of three individuals were recorded.
16
  This layer of soil (of 40 cm), which was deposited 
over the original flooring, contained brick rubble, pieces 
of bricks of the earlier flooring, mortar, pieces of frescoes, 
human bones and fragments of ceramics and glass vessels.

220 Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
the loculi of the western burial room (labelled as 
loculus B and C).
In addition to the hoard of solidi (Cat. nos. 
1–7), below the new flooring, in the 40 cm thick 
layer of soil deposited over the original flooring, 
an additional 15 coins were discovered (Cat. nos. 
8–22), including parts of a marble stela, an iron 
bracelet, a brick with a stylised representation of a 
human figure, as well as fragments of the following 
artefacts: a glass paste bracelet, a lead object (?), 
an enamelled oil lamp and a glass vessel. Above 
the new flooring, eight coins were discovered (Cat. 
nos. 23–30), as well as cross-shaped gold sheet 
plating, a piece of gold jewellery (medallion ?) 
and a ceramic weight (?).
This remarkable find of solidi comprises three 
specimens of Honorius and four of Theodosius 
II, all of which were minted in Constantinople. 
Of these, the earliest solidus (Cat. no. 1) was is-
sued during the reign of Arcadius, Honorius and 
Theodosius II (402–408), five solidi (Cat. nos. 
2–6) were minted during the reign of Honorius 
and Theodosius II (408–423), while the last speci-
men (Cat. no. 7) belongs to the consecutive reigns 
of Theodosius II and Valentinian III (423–443).
The earliest specimen is a solidus of Theodo-
sius II (Cat. no. 1), with a CONCORDIA AVGGG 
reverse legend (Constantinopolis enthroned front, 
holding sceptre and Victory on globe, right foot 
on prow; star in left field), dated to 403–408 AD, 
that is, before the death of Arcadius. Next are five 
solidi of the same reverse type: CONCORDIA 
A VGG (the reverse depiction is the same as in Cat. 
no. 1), three of which were issued for Honorius 
(Cat. nos. 2–4) and two for Theodosius II (Cat. 
nos. 5–6), all dated to 408–420 AD. On a solidus 
of Theodosius II (Cat. no. 6; detail), graffiti is 
discernible: ligatured letters L and B are in the 
right obverse field, while an X made using deep 
and wide incisions is on the reverse, also in the 
right field. Graffiti is relatively common on gold 
coins from the 4
th
 to the end of the 6
th
 centuries, 
and the reasons for its appearance are probably 
different and conditioned by the type of engraved 
letters or symbols.
17
 Letters, as in this case, are 
likely to be a temporary ownership mark or a 
17
  Christian symbols, such as, for example, a Chris-
togram or a cross, are assumed to occur in the period of 
transition from paganism to Christianity. It has been noted 
that, since the adoption of the cross as a basic type on 
coins in the late 6
th
 and the early 7
th
 century, graffiti with 
Christian symbols disappeared (cf. DOC, 35).
guarantee of quality.
18
 The latest specimen in this 
collective find is a solidus of Theodosius II (Cat. 
no. 7) with a VOT XXX MVLT XXXX reverse 
legend (Constantinopolis enthroned front, hold-
ing cross on globe and sceptre, left foot on prow, 
by the throne a shield; star in right field), dated 
to 430–440 AD.
The most comprehensive study of Late Antique 
gold coins from the territory of Serbia, by Miloje 
Vasić, served as the basis for the analogies for the 
Viminacium specimens.
19
 In this study, there are no 
analogies for the earliest specimen of Theodosius 
II from the Viminacium hoard. However, in the 
collection of the National Museum in Belgrade, 
a solidus of the same type, minted for Honorius, 
was recorded.
20
 For the Viminacium specimens of 
Honorius (Cat. nos. 2–4) and Theodosius II (Cat. 
nos. 5–6), there are analogies in the collection of 
the National Museum in two cases for each issuer.
21
 
The latest coin in the hoard from Viminacium has 
most analogies, with six specimens recorded in the 
collection of the National Museum in Belgrade.
22
 
Unfortunately, the location of finding is unknown 
for all the analogous solidi from this collection.
As is the case with the first six specimens from 
Viminacium (Cat. nos. 1–6), a total of 43 solidi in 
the collection of the National Museum, most of 
which (25) struck at the mint of Constantinople, 
belong to the entire period of the reign of Arcadius, 
Honorius, and Theodosius II (395–423).
23
 The 
location of finding is known only for five of these 
solidi, one of which was discovered in Kostolac 
(Viminacium).
24
 This is a solidus of Theodosius 
II from 420–422 AD, with a VOT XX MVLT XXX 
B reverse legend.
25
 Like the latest specimen of 
the Viminacium hoard, a total of 38 solidi in the 
collection of the National Museum, 22 of which 
issued by the mint of Constantinople, belong to 
18
  DOC, 35.
19
  Vasić 2008. The study includes the entire collection 
of Late Antique gold coins of the National Museum in 
Belgrade, as well as a small number of specimens that are 
kept in other museums in Serbia.
20
  Vasić 2008, 271, Cat. no. 364 (sic! the photo clearly 
shows AVGGG and officina E).
21
  Vasić 2008, 270, Cat. no. 361; 271, Cat. no. 363 
(Honorius); 278, Cat. nos. 382–383 (Theodosius II).
22
  Vasić 2008, 283–285, Cat. nos. 395–400.
23
  Vasić 2008, 114 Table.
24
  One specimen each originates from: the surround-
ings of Niš, the surroundings of Predajane, Višnjica and 
Mačkovac near Kuršumlija (cf. supra ref. 22).
25
  Vasić 2008, 279, Cat. no. 384.

221 A hoard of solidi from a hypogeum at the Viminacium necropolis – Pećine (Serbia)
the period of the consecutive reigns of Theodosius 
II and Valentinian III (423–443).
26
The closest and chronologically analogous 
would be a hoard of six solidi of Theodosius II, 
26
  Only in four of these 22 specimens is the place 
of finding known: Tanda near Bor, the surroundings of 
Paraćin, Kosanica near Pljevlja and Bela Palanka (cf. Vasić 
2008, 118 Table).
which was, prior to 1901, sold in the village of 
Braničevo (about 30 km east of Viminacium).
27
 
This information was obtained from Patsch, who 
27
  It is logical to assume that the hoard which was 
sold in the village of Braničevo was discovered in the 
close vicinity of Viminacium, if not at Viminacium itself. 
Further in the text, this hoard will be referred to as the 
“hoard from Braničevo”, to avoid repeating that it is the 
hoard sold in the village of Braničevo.
Fig. 2: 3D plan of family mausoleum (G 5868).
Sl. 2: Tloris križno oblikovane družinske grobnice (G 5868) v 3D-izrisu.

222 Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
conducted on the floor of a house that had been 
destroyed in a fire, and therefore its composition 
is reliable.
30
 The hoard from Pontes consists of 
five solidi of Theodosius II, with three of them 
of a slightly later date than the latest specimen 
from Viminacium: 1–2. VOT XXX MVLT XXXX, 
ex – CONOB; 3–5. IMP XXXXII COS XVII P P, 
ex – COMOB.
31
 M. Vasić dated this hoard to 443 
AD and brought it into connection with the Hun-
nic devastations of the same year.
32
From this period, there are two other unpub-
lished hoards of solidi from the region of the 
Danube Limes, from the vicinity of Prahovo (10) 
and from Štubik (4), although it remains unclear 
whether this is the same find or they are two dif-
ferent hoards.
33
30
  Vasić 1983.
31
  1–2. RIC X, p. 259, no. 257, 430–440 AD; 3. RIC X, 
p. 262, Group II, no. 307 (5 points), 441–450; 4–5. RIC 
X, p. 263, Group II, like no. 308 (4 points), 441–450 AD.
32
  Vasić linked the hoard with historical events on the 
Danube Limes during 443 AD and, based on that and the 
stratigraphic situation at Pontes, he assumes that Pontes 
was devastated twice, in 441 and 443 AD, when it was 
totally destroyed (cf. Vasić 1983, 110; Vasić 2008, 119).
33
  Radić and Ivanišević mention a hoard of 10 solidi 
from the vicinity of Prahovo (Aquis), which is kept at the 
Museum of Krajina in Negotin, and present the following 
content: mint of Constantinople SALVS REI PVBLICAE (1 
coin), VOT XXX MVLT XXXX (2 coins), IMP XXXX II 
COS XVII P P (5 coins); mint of Thessalonica VOT XXX 
MVLT XXXX (1 coin), VIRT EX ERC ROM (1 coin) (cf. 
Radić, Ivanišević 2006, 22, ref. 46). V asić mentions a hoard 
from Štubik, which is also kept at the same museum, and 
has the following content: mint of Constantinople SALVS 
REI PVBLICAE (1 coin), VOT XXX MVLT XXXX (2 coins); 
mint of Thessalonica VOT XXX MVLT XXXX (1 coin) (cf. 
Vasić 2008, 119, ref. 558). If these were two hoards, the 
first, from the vicinity of Prahovo, would, with its issues, 
be analogous with the later find from Pontes, while the 
find from Štubik would be analogous with the find from 
also described all six solidi:
28
 1. CONCORDIA 
AVGG A, ex – CONOB; 2. VOT XX MVLT XXX 
E, ex – CONOB, no star in the field; 3–4, the 
same as the previous, but with a star in the field; 
5. GLOR ORVIS TERRAR, ex – TESOB; 6. VOT 
XXX MVLT XXXX Z, ex – CONOB.
29
 The “hoard 
from Braničevo” is concluded with an identi-
cal specimen as that of Viminacium, VOT XXX 
MVLT XXXX, and is dated to 430–440 AD. The 
differences between these two finds are the pres-
ence of a solidus from the mint of Thessalonica in 
the “hoard from Braničevo” and with the earliest 
specimen in the hoard from Viminacium, which 
is dated to 403–408 AD (Fig. 3).
Another interesting fact relates to the incidents 
of specific issues in these two finds. While the 
largest number of specimens of the Viminacium 
find comprises issues from 408–420 (CONCORDIA 
AVGG), in the “hoard from Braničevo” these are 
issues from 420–424 AD (VOT XX MVLT XXX), 
which are not present in that of Viminacium. Of 
course, the content of the “hoard from Braničevo” 
has to be taken with certain reservations consider-
ing the circumstances of finding.
The third hoard from the Serbian part of the 
Danube Limes originated from Pontes and was 
discovered during archaeological investigations 
28
  Patsch 1902. Of these six solidi, one was repurchased 
for the National Museum in Sarajevo (GLOR ORVIS TER-
RAR). This hoard is later also mentioned by Mirnik 1981, 
86, no. 331; Hahn, Metcalf 1988, 117 (which dated the 
hoard to 443); Radić, Ivanišević 2006, 22, ref. 43; Vasić 
2008, 119, ref. 558.
29
  Here, the order presented by Patsch is somewhat 
altered and the solidi are listed chronologically: 1. RIC X, 
p. 253, no. 202, 408–420 AD; 2. RIC X, p. 256, no. 219, 
420–422 AD; 3–4. RIC X, p. 257, no. 225, 423–424 AD; 
5. RIC X, p. 267, no. 361, 424–425 AD; 6. RIC X, p. 259, 
no. 257, 430–440 AD.
Mintinig period
“Hoard from Braničevo”
(No. of pieces)
Hoard from Viminacium
(No. of pieces)
Hoard from Pontes
(No. of pieces)
403–408 1
408–420 1 5
420–424 3
430–440 1 1 2
441–450 3
Fig. 3: Incidence of solidi from the mint of Constantinople in solidi hoards from the Serbian part of the Danube Limes.
Sl. 3: Zastopanost solidov iz kovnice v Konstantinoplu v zakladih solidov z območja srbskega dela donavskega limesa.

223 A hoard of solidi from a hypogeum at the Viminacium necropolis – Pećine (Serbia)
The conditions of depositing of the Viminacium 
hoard of solidi and its dating will again be consid-
ered in the conclusion. However, before that, it is 
also necessary to analyse other finds from tomb G 
5868 and, therefore, both the construction phases 
as well as subsequent construction modifications 
in the tomb. As already mentioned, in the layer 
of the deposited soil, above the original flooring, 
15 coins were discovered (Cat. nos. 8–22), none 
of which was found on the earlier flooring. In this 
regard, questions are raised as to how many times 
and when the tomb was robbed. Considering the 
content of the find in the layer of the subsequently 
deposited soil (the base of the younger flooring),
34
 
it can be assumed that the tomb had been used 
for some time before it was robbed, and then, for 
some reason,
35
 the construction of the younger 
flooring was undertaken, for the foundation of 
which the soil was delivered, which was mixed 
with all that remained in the tomb after the rob-
bery.
36
 For the reasons mentioned, the depths at 
which the coins were found cannot be of any help, 
except for the general knowledge that they were 
in the tomb after its construction, which does 
not exclude the possibility that some of the coins 
belong to the time of the soil depositing and the 
construction of the new flooring.
Nevertheless, the coins discovered under the 
younger flooring range from Severus Alexander 
tomb G 5868 from Viminacium. Of course, this should be 
taken with some reservations as there is no certainty as 
to whether this is the same find and identical specimens 
were mentioned twice.
34
  Cf. supra ref. 16.
35
  The reasons for the construction of the new flooring 
can be the worn-out state of the early one and the need 
for its renovation, as the place where funerary rituals took 
place during burials and, later, during regular commemo-
rative repasts, or it was constructed with the intention to 
accommodate new graves, after all the existing loculi were 
filled. This was the case in monumental cruciform tomb 
G 5035, where, after the spaces in the loculi were filled, 
an additional eight graves were built in the central room 
(two rows of four), which completely closed access to the 
loculi on that side (cf. Documentation of the Institute of 
Archaeology in Belgrade, Fieldwork diary, 3460; Milošević 
2006, 94).
36
  This assumption is supported by the situation in 
previously discovered monumental tombs at Pećine, which 
were also robbed in antiquity. On the floors of these tombs, 
parts of skeletons thrown out of graves during robberies 
were discovered, including the remainder of grave goods 
(fragments of ceramics and glass vessels, coins, etc.), mixed 
with the rubble of the caved-in tomb (cf. Milošević 2006, 
70–132, Vojvoda, Mrđić 2017, 34–44).
to unidentified specimens from the end of the 
4
th
 or the beginning of the 5
th
 century. The earli-
est specimen belongs to provincial issues of the 
Marcianopolis mint, struck for Severus Alexan-
der (222–235 AD) (Cat. no. 8). Next is another 
specimen from the 3
rd
 century, an antoninianus 
of Gallienus (Cat. no. 9), from the time of his sole 
rule (260–268 AD). Coinage from the 4
th
 century 
is represented by the Caesar issues of Constans 
and Constantine II from the reign of Constantine 
I (Cat. nos. 10–11). Four coins belong to 337–348 
AD (Cat. nos. 12–15), while one is from the sole 
reign of Constantius II (Cat. no. 16). Also present 
is a specimen of Theodosius I, dated to 379–383 
AD (Cat. no. 17), and five unidentified specimens 
dated to the second half of the 4
th
 century (Cat. 
nos. 18–20) or the end of the 4
th
 and the beginning 
of the 5
th
 century (Cat. nos. 21–22). Above the 
younger flooring, eight more coins were discov-
ered. The two earliest were issued for Constantius 
II (Cat. nos. 23–24) and dated to 340–350 AD. 
The next two specimens probably belong to the 
issues of Valentinian I and Valentinian II (Cat. 
nos. 25–26), while the last four unidentified coins 
(Cat. nos. 27–30) are roughly dated to the second 
half of the 4
th
 or the beginning of the 5
th
 century.
The construction of monumental family tombs, 
previously discovered at the necropolis of Pećine 
(13 of them),
37
 is commonly dated from the mid-4
th
 
century, while the time of use in most of the tombs 
has also been confirmed as the first decades of the 
5
th
 century, that is, until 441.
38
 These tombs were 
concentrated in the northern part of the necropolis 
of Pećine, within the Late Antique necropolis (Fig. 
1).
39
 They were aboveground (five of them) or 
underground tombs, of the hypogeum type (eight 
of them), of different sizes and bases (rectangular, 
with an apse, cruciform).
40
 According to the shape 
of the base, the size and the number of loculi, the 
newly discovered G 5868 is completely analogous 
to the previously investigated G 4816.
41
 The same 
cruciform base was observed in another, thus far 
the largest discovered, underground tomb G 5035, 
37
  Cf. supra ref. 14.
38
  Milošević 2006, 70–132.
39
  They stretched east–west over a length of about 
250m, and north–south about 100m.
40
  Milošević 2006, 71.
41
  Zotović 1994, 62–63; Milošević 2006, 72–82. After 
the investigation, this tomb was conserved and covered, 
and it remains available to researchers and visitors of the 
archaeological park, with special permission, as it is located 
within the enclosed area of TPP Kostolac 2.

224 Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
in the immediate proximity of G 4816. It differs 
from the previous two in the number of loculi 
in each conch (each contained four), while with 
some, two levels of burials were also noted.
42
 In 
addition, in the central room of this tomb, after 
the completion of burials in the loculi of the side 
conchs, eight more graves were built. The con-
struction of both previously discovered tombs is 
dated, based on the coin finds, to the first half of 
the 4
th
 century (e.g., coins of Constantine I and 
Crispus).
43
 It is known that coins provide a solid 
terminus post quem for dating graves. As the coins 
in question are worn, when dating, what must be 
factored in, other than the time of minting, is the 
time of their circulation before being deposited, 
which is usually 20 years.
44
 There is, therefore, an 
inclination to assume that both tombs were built 
around the mid-4
th
 century.
In addition to the aforementioned tombs in 
the northern part of the necropolis of Pećine, 
during previous archaeological investigations, at 
the site of Kod Grobalja, about 700 m south of 
the southern rampart of the civilian settlement, 
two more monumental tombs were discovered, 
of a rectangular base with three semi-circular 
apses (trefoil shaped), the construction of which 
is dated to the second half of the 4
th
 century (Fig. 
1).
45
 These tombs are defined as isolated, as they 
42
  In the example of the northernmost loculus (no. 12) 
of the western conch, another loculus built above it was 
noted (no. 13). It can be assumed that the other loculi also 
had two levels, which has not been confirmed, as the tomb 
was devastated. In most loculi that have a double headrest 
on both sides, two or more individuals were noted. All this 
points to a planned and dense packing of burial spaces, 
and Milošević, therefore, assumed that this is not a family 
tomb and could possibly indicate the uniting of different 
social structures, some collegia or religious communities, 
and their shared investment in the construction of some 
graves (cf. Milošević 2006, 95).
43
  Zotović 1994, 62–63; Milošević 2006, 81.
44
  Cooke 1998, 13. The amount of caution required 
when dating graves using coins is also evidenced by coin 
finds from graves at Viminacium, which contain a larger 
number of specimens. The time span from the earliest to 
the latest coin in graves usually ranges from 50–100 years, 
although there are instances for which this range amounts 
to about 200 years (cf. Vojvoda, Mrđić 2015, 28).
45
  Zotović 1994, 60–62. Zotović defined both triconch 
memoriae as cemetery basilicas based on the renovation 
of the floors, which, according to her, indicates a greater 
circulation in the structure compared to what would be 
required for paying respects to the dead. Above the southern 
triconch memoria, a medieval necropolis was established 
in the 12
th
–13
th
 century (cf. Spasić 1989–1990).
do not belong to the city necropolis, but represent 
private sepulchral structures, built on the estate 
of a villa rustica.
46
The discovery of the tomb with solidi (G 5868) 
in 2016 as well as new investigations of its wider 
surroundings provide new data for the interpreta-
tion of the southward expansion of the necropolis 
of Pećine. Specifically, the tomb with solidi (G 
5868) was discovered 480 m south of the afore-
mentioned tomb G 4816 or 45 m east of the two 
triconch tombs at the site of Kod Grobalja (Fig. 
4). It is located in the intermediate area that was 
not included in the previous investigations, and, 
as it turned out, it was dug into the layers of an 
earlier necropolis from the 2
nd
 and 3
rd
 century, 
at which cremation and inhumation burials were 
simultaneously practised.
47
A RESUMPTION OF THE DATING OF 
TOMB G 5868 AND THE DEPOSITION
If the aforementioned assumption with regard 
to the formation of the layer of deposited soil 
below the newer flooring is accepted, the 3
rd
-
century coins (Alexander Severus and Gallienus) 
are certainly not relevant for determining the time 
of the tomb’s construction, but they likely repre-
sented grave goods in one of the robbed loculi.
48
 
Six coins are dated to 333–350 AD, while seven 
belong to the second half of the 4
th
 century, and 
two of them possibly even to the very beginning 
of the 5
th
 century. A similar picture was obtained 
from the coin finds from tomb G 4816 (Constan-
tine I, Crispus, Valentinian II, the second half of 
the 4
th
 or possibly beginning of the 5
th
 century).
49
 
46
  Milošević 2005, 180.
47
  At about 10 m north of tomb G 5868, an early me-
dieval necropolis was established (9
th
–10
th
 c.), which was 
investigated at the same time, and its separate publication 
is expected. The formation of this medieval necropolis, 
right next to tomb G 5868, as well as of the somewhat 
later necropolis from the 12
th
–13
th
 century (cf. supra ref. 
44), about 50 m west, above one and next to the other 
triconch tomb, could indicate that these structures were 
to some extent preserved at the time and that the medieval 
necropolises emerged around them out of reverence or 
belief that these are small early Christian churches.
48
  As already mentioned, at Viminacium necropolises, 
it is not uncommon for graves to contain coins even 100 
or 200 years older than others in the same grave (cf. supra 
ref. 44).
49
  Vojvoda, Mrđić 2017, Cat. nos. 1445, 1450, 1718, 
2859, 2898. Of 14 coins from this tomb, nine have been 

©Google
225 A hoard of solidi from a hypogeum at the Viminacium necropolis – Pećine (Serbia)
Based on everything stated, it is believed that the 
time of the construction of tomb G 5868 can be 
dated to around the mid-4
th
 century. Of the eight 
coins discovered above the younger flooring, two 
are dated to 347–350,
50
 while the others belong 
to issues of the second half of the 4
th
 or the first 
decades of the 5
th
 century. This could, with a degree 
of caution, place the construction of the younger 
flooring into the first or the second decade of the 
5
th
 century.
The latest specimen of the solidi is dated to 
430–440 AD and, at the same time, also represents 
the latest coin discovered in the tomb, but directly 
below one of the bricks of the younger flooring in 
the northwest corner of the central room (Fig. 2, 
C - 14125). The depositing of the hoard of solidi 
into tomb G 5868 can be dated to 441 AD, given 
the known historical circumstances. The eastern 
part of the empire was, from the second quarter 
of the 5
th
 century, faced with the growing threat 
from the Huns, who were advancing towards 
lost (cf. Vojvoda, Mrđić 2017, 506, Table 1).
50
  Cf. supra ref. 44, 48.
the Danube frontier. The gravity of the newly 
emerged situation is evidenced by the fact that 
Theodosius II, from 430, had to pay the Huns an 
annual tribute, which in the years that followed 
only increased. Nevertheless, it appears that the 
Huns were intent on destroying the Danube Limes 
in order to facilitate their incursions into the Ro-
man territory. Thus, in 441 AD, at a time when the 
Eastern Empire’s army was engaged on the other 
side, they raided across the Danube frontier. In 
this invasion, Pontes, Viminacium, Margum and 
Sirmium fell. The incursion was not confined to 
441 AD, but hostilities continued until 443 AD, by 
which time Pontes (for the second time), Naissus, 
Serdica and Ratiaria had been destroyed.
51
As shown, the construction of the new flooring 
in tomb G 5868 certainly preceded the events of 
441 AD, when Viminacium was destroyed during 
the invasion of the Huns. The fact that the hoard 
was discovered directly below one of the bricks of 
the younger flooring indicates that it was stashed 
51
  V asić 1983, 104–107, ref. 15–29; V asić 2008, 117–118, 
ref. 546–554.
Fig. 4: Family mausoleums G 4816, G 5868 and triconch tomb.
Sl. 4: Družinski grobnici G 4816 in G 5868 ter grobnica s tremi polkupolami.

226 Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
in the tomb in the face of the impending threat 
from the Huns in 441 AD. From all this, it can be 
concluded that the hoard itself is not connected 
with any of the graves or the tomb itself, but that 
the owner, probably a family member who had 
access to the tomb, hid his savings from danger. 
Since taxes in this period were paid exclusively in 
gold, and given that in some provinces the limitanei 
Denomination: solidus
Weight; Size; Axis: 4.46 g; 21.04 mm; S
Obverse: D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG; helmeted bust 
 facing, diad. (pearl), cuir., spear in r. hand hld. over 
r. shoulder, behind head, on l. arm decorated shield 
(horseman rides down enemy).
Reverse: CONCORDI-A AVGGG Γ; star in field l.; ex – 
CONOB; Constantinopolis enthroned front, head r., 
hld. sceptre and Victory on globe, her r. foot on prow.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 403–408 AD (Theodosius II)
References: RIC X, p. 243, no. 31.
Denomination: solidus
Weight; Size; Axis: 4.45 g; 21.54 mm; S
Obverse: D N HONORI-VS P F AVG; similar.
Reverse: CONCORDI-A AVGG B; star in field l.; 
 ex – CONOB; similar.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 408–420 AD (Honorius)
References: RIC X, p. 253, no. 201.
Denomination: solidus
Weight; Size; Axis: 4.47 g; 21.68 mm; S
Obverse: D N HONORI-VS P F AVG; similar.
Reverse: CONCORDI-A AVGG B; star in field l.; ex – 
CONOB; similar.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 408–420 AD (Honorius)
References: RIC X, p. 253, no. 201.
were also paid in gold, it can be assumed that in 
the case of the Viminacium hoard of solidi this 
points to the owner having hidden it.
52
52
  This has already been confirmed for Dacia Ripensis 
by the find of solidi from Pontes. Vasić elaborates on this 
in two of his papers (cf. Vasić 1983, 108–110; Vasić 2008, 
37–54, 119).
CATALOGUE 
The coins are kept in the Museum of the Institute of Archaeology within the Archaeological Park 
Viminacium.
Abbreviations:
Axis (sides of the World)
l. = left, r. = right, std. = seated, stg. = standing, laur. = laureate, rad. = radiate, diad. = diademed, dr. = bust draped, 
cuir. = bust cuirassed
Cat. no. 1 (Inv. no.: 14125/1)
Cat. no. 2 (Inv. no.: 14125/2)
Cat. no. 3 (Inv. no.: 14125/3)
Hoard of solidi discovered below the younger flooring

227 A hoard of solidi from a hypogeum at the Viminacium necropolis – Pećine (Serbia)
Denomination: solidus
Weight; Size; Axis: 4.47 g; 21.21 mm; S
Obverse: D N HONORI-VS P F AVG; similar.
Reverse: CONCORDI-A AVGG L; star in field l.;
 ex – CONOB; similar.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 408–420 AD (Honorius)
References: RIC X, p. 253, no. 201.
Denomination: solidus
Weight; Size; Axis: 4.46 g; 21.01 mm; S
Obverse: D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG; similar.
Reverse: CONCORDI-A AVGG A; star in field l.; ex – 
CONOB; similar.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 408–420 AD (Theodosius II)
References: RIC X, p. 253, no. 202.
Denomination: solidus
Weight; Size; Axis: 4.47 g; 21.35 mm; S
Obverse: D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG; similar.
Reverse: CONCORDI-A AVGG Z; star in field l.; ex – 
CONOB; similar.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 408–420 AD (Theodosius II)
Notes: Graffiti: obv. LB in lig.; rev. X.
References: RIC X, p. 253, no. 202.
Denomination: solidus
Weight; Size; Axis: 4.47 g; 20.93 mm; S
Obverse: D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG; similar.
Reverse: VOT XXX – MVLT XXXX S; star in field l.; ex 
– CONOB; Constantinopolis enthroned front, head to 
l., hld. cross on globe and sceptre; her l. foot on prow; 
by the throne a shield.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 430–440 AD (Theodosius II)
References: RIC X, p. 259, no. 257.
Cat. no. 4 (Inv. no.: 14125/4)
Cat. no. 5 (Inv. no.: 14125/5)
Cat. no. 6 (Inv. no.: 14125/6)
Cat. no. 7 (Inv. no.: 14125/7)

228 Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
Other coins discoverd below 
the younger flooring
Cat. no. 8 (Inv. no.: 14092)
Denomination: AE
Weight; Size; Axis: 9.15 g; 25.43 mm; N
Obverse: AVT K M AVP CEV ALEΞANΔPOC; bust r., 
head laur.
Reverse: VΠ TIB IOVΛ ΦECTOV MARKIANOΠOΛIT; ex 
– ΩN; eagle stg. l. on rod, head l. with wreath in its beak.
Mint: Marcianopolis
Date: 222–235 AD (Severus Alexander)
References: Mušmov 1912, no. 714.
Cat. no. 9 (Inv. no.: 14129)
Denomination: Ant.
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.60 g; 18.07 mm; S 
Obverse: GALLIE[NVS AVG]; head rad. r.
Reverse: [FIDES MILI]TVM; fides stg. r., hld. standard 
and sceptre; N in field l.
Mint: Rome
Date: 260–268 AD (Gallien)
Notes: Fragmentary
References: RIC V.1, p. 147, no. 192A.
Cat. no. 10 (Inv. no.: 14083)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 2.64 g; 18.00 mm; S
Obverse: [FL CONST]ANS NOB CAES; bust dr., cuir., l., 
head diad.
Reverse: [GLOR]-IA EXERCITVS
 ex – •CONSI[.]; Gloria exercitus type with two standards.
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 333–335 AD (Constans)
References: RIC VII, p. 582, no. 83.
Cat. no. 11 (Inv. no.: 14120)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.21 g; 17.00 mm; N
Obverse: FL IVL CONSTANTIVS NOB C; bust dr., cuir. 
r., head laur.
Reverse: GLOR-IA EXERCITVS; ex – ΓSIS; Gloria exercitus 
type with one standard.
Mint: Siscia
Date: 335–336 AD (Constantius II)
References: RIC VII, p. 458, no. 240.
Cat. no. 12 (Inv. no.: 14119)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.16 g; 16.11 mm; S
Obverse: D N CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; bust dr., cuir., 
r., head diad.
Reverse: GLOR-IA EXERCITVS; ex – SMKA; Gloria exer-
citus type with one standard.
Mint: Cyzicus
Date: 337–before April 340 AD (Constantine II)
References: RIC VIII, p. 490, no. 15.
Cat. no. 13 (Inv. no.: 14128)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.72 g; 15.98 mm; N
Obverse: CONSTANTI-[VS P F AVG]; bust dr. cuir. r., 
head diad.
Reverse: GLORI-A EXERCITVS; ex – SMTSA; Gloria 
exercitus type with one standrard.
Mint: Tessalonica
Date: 337–340 AD (Constantius II)
References: RIC VIII, p. 407, no. 56.
Cat. no. 14 (Inv. no.: 14137)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.80 g; 16.39 mm; S
Obverse: CONSTAN-S P F A VG; bust dr. cuir. r., head diad.
Reverse: VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN; ex – BSIS; two 
Victories stg. facing one another, each hld. wreath, 
between them upright palm branch.
Mint: Siscia
Date: 347–348 AD (Constans)
References: RIC VIII, p. 363, no. 189.
Cat. no. 15 (Inv. no.: 14127)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.43 g; 14.60 mm; NW
Obverse: Illegible; bust r. 
Reverse: VOT X•X MVLT XXX; in wreath, medallion on 
top of wreath; ex – Illegible.
Mint: Unknown
Date: 347–348 AD (Constans or Constantius II (?)
References: -.
Cat. no. 16 (Inv. no.: 14118)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.67 g; 16.89 mm; N
Obverse: Illegible; bust dr., cuir., r., head diad.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; falling horseman.
Mint: Unknown
Date: 350–361 AD (Constantius II)
Notes: Fragmentary
References: -.
Cat. no. 17 (Inv. no.: 14116)
Denomination: AE4
Weight; Size; Axis: 0.86 g; 15.98 mm; N
Obverse: D N THEODO-SIVS P F AVG; bust dr., cuir., 
r., head diad.
Reverse: VOT X MVLT XX ; in wreath; ex – SMKΓ
Mint: Cyzicus
Date: 379–383 AD (Theodosius I)
References: RIC IX, p. 244, no. 21(c).
Cat. no. 18 (Inv. no.: 14113)
Denomination: AE4
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.19 g; 13.88 mm; N
Obverse: Illegible; bust dr., cuir., r., head diad.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; Salus reipublicae type 
Victory adv. l. (?)
Mint: Unknown
Date: Second half of the 4
th
 c. (Gratian / Theodosius I ?)
References: -.

229 A hoard of solidi from a hypogeum at the Viminacium necropolis – Pećine (Serbia)
Cat. no. 19 (Inv. no.: 14117)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.94 g; 14.28 mm; N 
Obverse: Illegible; bust dr., cuir., r., head diad.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; figure (?) stg.
Mint: Unknown
Date: Second half of the 4
th
 c.
References: -.
Cat. no. 20 (Inv. no.: 14112)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 3.07 g; 15.88 mm; -
Obverse: Illegible; bust r.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; worn.
Mint: Unknown
Date: Second half of the 4
th
 c.
References: -.
Cat. no. 21 (Inv. no.: 14114)
Denomination: AE4
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.02 g; 13.65 mm; -
Obverse: Illegible; bust r.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; worn.
Mint: Unknown
Date: End of the 4
th
 c. or begining of the 5
th
 c.
References: -.
Cat. no. 22 (Inv. no.: 14115) 
Denomination: AE4
Weight; Size; Axis: 0.30 g; 10.22 mm; -
Obverse: Illegible; bust r.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; worn.
Mint: Unknown
Date: End of the 4
th
 c. or begining of the 5
th
 c.
Notes: Fragmentary
References: -.
Coins discoverd above the younger flooring
Cat. no. 23 (Inv. no.: 14089)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.33 g; 14.48 mm; N
Obverse: CONSTANTI-VS P F AVG; bust dr., cuir., r., 
head diad.
Reverse: VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN; ex – SMTS[A]; 
two Victories stg. facing one another,each hld. wreath, 
between them upright palm branch.
Mint: Thessalonica
Date: 347–348 AD
References: RIC VIII, p. 411, no. 104.
Cat. no. 24 (Inv. no.: 14085)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 0.95 g; 12.56 mm; S
Obverse: Illegible; bust dr., cuir., r., head diad.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; similar.
Mint: Unknown
Date: 340–350 AD (Constantius II)
Notes: Fragmentary
References: -.
Cat. no. 25 (Inv. no.: 14087)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.69 g; 15.94 mm; N
Obverse: Illegible; bust dr., cuir., r., head diad.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; figure (?) stg. front.
Mint: Unknown
Date: Second half of the 4
th
 c. (Valentinian I ?)
References: -.
Cat. no. 26 (Inv. no.: 14084)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.51 g; 15.93 mm; S
Obverse: [VALENTI]ANVS IVN P F C; bust dr. cuir. l., 
head diad.
Reverse: VOT V MVLT X; in wreath ex – [..]SΔ
Mint: Unknown
Date: 378–383 AD (Valentinian II)
References: -.
Cat. no. 27 (Inv. no.: 14090)
Denomination: AE3
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.36 g; 14.81 mm; -
Obverse: Illegible; bust r.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; worn
Mint: Unknown
Date: Second half of the 4
th
 c.
References: -.
Cat. no. 28 (Inv. no.: 14091)
Denomination: AE4
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.29 g; 12.63 mm; -
Obverse: Illegible; bust r.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; worn.
Mint: Unknown
Date: Second half of the 4
th
 c.
References: -.
Cat. no. 29 (Inv. no.: 14088)
Denomination: AE4
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.31 g; 12.54 mm; -
Obverse: Illegible; bust r.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; worn.
Mint: Unknown
Date: End of the 4
th
 c. or begining of the 5
th
 c.
References: -.
Cat. no. 30 (Inv. no.: 14093)
Denomination: AE4
Weight; Size; Axis: 1.07 g; 13.5 mm; -
Obverse: Illegible; bust r.
Reverse: Illegible; ex – Illegible; worn.
Mint: Unknown
Date: End of the 4
th
 c. or begining of the 5
th
 c.
Notes: Fragmentary
References: -.

230 Mirjana VOJVODA, Saša REDŽIĆ
Abbreviations
DOC = GRIERSON, P ., M. MAYS 1992, Catalogue of Late 
Roman Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and the 
Whittemore Collection, From Arcadius and Honorius to 
the Accession of Anastasius. – Washington D.C.
RIC V .1 = WEBB, P . H. 1968, The Roman Imperial Coinage, 
Vol. V .1. – London.
RIC VII = BRUUN, P. M. 1966, The Roman Imperial 
Coinage, Vol. VII, Constantine and Licinius A.D. 313-
337. – London.
RIC VIII = KENT, J. P. C. 1981, The Roman Imperial 
Coinage, Vol. VIII, The family of Constantine I A.D. 
337-364. – London.
RIC IX = PEARCE, J. W. E. 1951, The Roman Imperial 
Coinage, V ol. IX, V alentinian I to Theodosius I. – London.
RIC X = KENT, J. P . C. 1994, The Roman Imperial Coinage, 
Vol. IX, The Divided Empire and the Fall of the Western 
Parts AD 395-491. – London.
COOKE, N. 1998, The definition and interpretation of Late 
Roman burial rites in the Western Empire. – PhD thesis, 
Institute of Archaeology, University College London 
(unpublished).
HAHN, W ., W . E. METCALF 1988, Studies in Early Byzan-
tine Gold Coinage. – Numismatic studies 17, New Y ork.
KORAĆ, M., S. GOLUBOVIĆ 2009, Viminacium. Više 
grobalja 2. – Beograd.
MILOŠEVIĆ, G. 2005, Funerary Structures on Private Estates 
in the Later Roman Empire: Case Study Viminacium. – 
In: M. Mirković (ed.), Römische Städte und Festungen an 
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231 Zakladna najdba solidov iz hipogeuma z viminacijske nekropole Pećine (Srbija)
Pri zaščitnih arheoloških raziskavah na območju 
južnih viminacijskih grobišč (Pećine) so leta 2016 
naleteli v okviru poznoantične podzemne grobnice, 
hipogeja (hypogeum G 5868), na zakladno najdbo 
sedmih solidusov (sl. 1). V tej izjemni najdbi so 
trije novci cesarja Honorija in štirje cesarja Teo-
dozija II., vsi kovani v Konstantinoplu. Novce so 
našli tik pod eno izmed opek mlajšega tlaka (sl. 
2: C - 14125) v severozahodnem vogalu osrednje 
grobne kamre ob zahodnem prostoru.
Najstarejši novec je solidus Teodozija II. (kat. 
št. 1) z legendo na reverzu CONCORDIA A VGGG 
(Konstantinopolis sedi na prestolu frontalno, 
drži scepter in Viktorijo na globusu, desna noga 
na premcu; zvezda v polju levo), datiran v čas 
med letoma 403 in 408 oziroma v obdobje pred 
Arkadijevo smrtjo. Sledi pet solidusov z enakim 
reverzom CONCORDIA AVGGG, od katerih trije 
pripadajo Honoriju (kat. št. 2–4) in dva Teodoziju 
II. (kat. št. 5, 6), datirani so v obdobje od leta 408 
do 420. Na solidusu T eodozija II. (kat. št. 6, detajl) 
so vrezani grafiti: na averzu sta desno v polju črki 
L in B v ligaturi in na reverzu tudi desno v polju 
X. Slednji je narejen z močnejšim in globokim 
vrezom. Najmlajši novec v tem zakladu je solidus 
Teodozija II. (kat. št. 7) z legendo na reverzu VOT 
XXX MVLT XXXX (Konstantinopolis sedi na 
prestolu frontalno, drži scepter in križ na globusu, 
leva noga na premcu, ob prestolu ščit; zvezda v 
polju desno), datiran v čas med letoma 430 in 440.
Na podlagi primerjav z drugimi monumentalni-
mi družinskimi grobnicami, že prej odkritimi pri 
arheoloških izkopavanjih v Viminaciju, ter tudi 
na osnovi drobnih arheoloških najdb je mogoče 
Zakladna najdba solidov iz hipogeuma
z viminacijske nekropole Pećine (Srbija)
Povzetek
Slikovno gradivo: Sl. 4 (izvedba: Jasmina Živković); − Katalog (foto : Nemanja Mrđić).
Illustrations: Fig. 4 (elaborated by: Jasmina Živković); − Catalogue (photo: Nemanja Mrđić).
The study results from the project: IRS 47018 – Viminacium, Roman city and legionary camp – research of the material 
and non-material culture of inhabitants using the modern technologies of remote detection, geophysics, GIS, digitalisation 
and 3D visualisation (No. 47018) – Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia.
gradnjo grobnice G 5868 datirati v sredino 4. st. Na 
osnovi presenetljive najdbe solidov lahko obnovo 
tlaka v grobnici s previdnostjo postavimo v čas 
prvega ali drugega desetletja 5. st. Shranitev zla-
tnikov v osrednji kamri grobnice (sl. 2: C - 14125) 
ni bila vezana na obnovo, saj je najmlajši solidus 
datiran v obdobje med letoma 430 in 440. Najdbo 
lahko povežemo z dogodki iz leta 441, izpričanimi 
v virih, ko so prebivalci in mesto Viminacij ob 
maščevalnem pohodu Hunov utrpeli veliko škodo. 
Kraj najdbe in datacija nakazujeta, da solidusi 
niso bili položeni v grobnico kot grobni pridatek. 
Zakop je mogoče povezati z lastnikom grobnice 
ali z bližnjim družinskim članom, ki je imel prost 
dostop do grobnice in je tam skril prihranke pred 
nevarnostjo.
Prevod: Andrej Šemrov
Mirjana Vojvoda    
Arheološki institut Beograd   
Knez Mihajlova 35/IV    
RS-11000 Beograd    
mirjana.vojvoda@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7520-0988
Saša Redžić
Arheološki institut Beograd
Knez Mihajlova 35/IV 
RS-11000 Beograd
sasa.redzic@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9462-3561