Roman Coin Hoard Near Smederevo
Roman Coin Hoard Near Smederevo
ID
Received: April 15, 2019
Accepted: April 23, 2019
Bojana Borić-Brešković
National Museum Belgrade
Mirjana Vojvoda
Institute of Archaeology Belgrade
Abstract: The Mezul I hoard was discovered in 1966 in the area of Bobovik, a site
on Mezul, in the vicinity of Smederevo. It consists of 272 denarii and antoniniani,
spanning the period from Caracalla to Trajan Decius. Another hoard of Roman
coins was discovered in the immediate vicinity in that same year, on the same site in
the Mazgaj area (Mezul II; Trajan – Philip I). The character of architectural remains
at Mezul cannot be clarified without the appropriate archaeological explorations,
so the question remains open about whether they were just from a villa rustica or a
civilian settlement. Both hoards were found in immediate proximity to the vicinal
road (Vinceia i.e. Smederevo – present-day Smederevska Palanka and further on
to the south), not far from the main via publica. The listing of numerous, so far
unpublished finds from the Roman period, can confirm this route of the vicinal
road, which was already proposed earlier. At the same time, they indicate that two
other vicinal roads (viae vicinales) led from Smederevska Palanka, towards Kosmaj
and Rudnik, strategically important mining zones in the interior of the province
of Moesia Superior.
Key words: Roman Empire, coin hoards, Mezul I, Moesia Superior, vicinal roads.
* bojanabb@yubc.net
** mirjana.vojvoda@gmail.com
1 The study is a result of the projects: Roman Coin Hoards from Serbia. Numismatic Collection of the Nation-
al Museum in Belgrade (B. Borić–Brešković) – Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia; Life in Antiq-
uity: The Expansion of Cities and Urban Civilization in the Balkans and the City Neighbouring Areas from
the Hellenistic to the Late Roman Period (B. Borić-Brešković) (No. 177005) and IRS – Viminacium, Roman
city and military legion camp – research of material and non-material culture of inhabitants by using mod-
ern technologies of remote detection, geophysics, GIS, digitalization and 3D visualization (M. Vojvoda)
(No. 47018) - Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia.
The hoard of 272 denarii and antoniniani (Mezul I) was unearthed on August
19th, 1966, in the area of Bobovik (near the bridge), on the archaeological site of
Mezul, between the villages of Vlaški Do and Dobri Do, near Smederevo (Map 1).2
The first report about the discovery of the hoard was made by Efrem Pegan in 1967,
based on information he had received from Leontije Pavlović, who was the director
of the museum in Smederevo at that time,3 while Pavlović published more details
about the find and the summary composition of the hoard a little later, in 1972.4 On
that occasion, L. Pavlović declared that two other hoards of Roman coins had been
discovered in the same orchard, in early November 1966, during soil preparations.
According to his record, the first consisted of around 7 kg of antoniniani and the
second of around 5 kg of silver coins. Both were deposited in clay vessels and were
purchased for the National Museum in Belgrade.5 For a long time, the hoards were
known in literature under the name ‘Dobri Do’,6 but the name was changed later to
‘Mezul’7 so as to correspond with the precise discovery site.
Map 1 – Archaeological site of Mezul, hoard Mezul I (M I), Mezul II (M II) (TM Kragujevac
2-2, detail)
2 The hoard was found on what was then the property of the Agricultural Collective from Azanja, during soil
preparations for the planting of an orchard. It was deposited in a ceramic vessel which was partly broken at
the moment of discovery. The hoard was purchased by the National Museum in Smederevo in the same year
(Inv. No. 494/66), where it is still kept. The authors would like to extend their gratitude to the director of the
National Museum in Smederevo, Tatjana Gačpar, and colleague Milan Marković for making the material
available and for assistance during scanning.
3 Pegan declared that the hoard contained around 300 antoniniani, cf. Pegan 1967, 112.
4 Павловић 1972, 72-73.
5 Павловић 1969, 18; Павловић 1972, 73; The Mezul II hoard was published in this issue of the Numizmatičar
journal: Miloje Vasić, Hoard of Denarii and Antoniniani from Dobri Do (Mezul II).
6 Vasić 1972, 58-62; Mirnik 1981, 61, No. 163.
7 Арсенијевић 1997, 44; Арсенијевић 2004, 227; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2016, 24.
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
8 Павловић 1969, 3-4, 17-18; Новаковић 1970, 39; Павловић 1972, 72. For a long time now, the local
population has been dismantling the remains of Roman structures and using the material for construction
or road building (Павловић 1969, 3, note 2).
9 Павловић 1969, 3, nap. 2. The bronze lucerna with ten nozzles (Inv. 200/65) was discovered in 1964 at
Mezul during agricultural works. Pavlović concluded that the lucerna was dedicated to a temple based on
the inscription: DEI IN DOMV TERMOGENES VOTVM FECIT. The ornaments, dolphins eating octopi
and smaller fish and, especially, the fantastical animal at the bow, devouring a human figure, is an indication
of early Christian iconography, in connection with the myth about Jonah.
10 Васић 2015, 118-119. In an earlier study, Vasić allowed for the opinion that the architectural remains at
Mezul could represent the remains of a villa rustica and ‘perhaps even a larger civilian settlement,’ cf. Vasić
1972, 62.
11 Pavlović mentioned another hoard, discovered in 1913 near Vučački Potok, which is the discovery site of
the Smederevo hoard from 1930. He stated that it was found on the property of Sreten Stefanović, that it
consisted of 500 specimens of Roman coins and also ended with the coins of Gallienus (Павловић 1972, 51).
The hoard was not mentioned in literature, either before or after Pavlović’s study from 1972.
12 Петровић 1931, 32-77; Vasić 1972, 58-60, 63-65; Mirnik 1981, 70, No. 221; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-
Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 160, note 14.
13 Арсенијевић 1997, 43-108; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 160, note 15.
14 Арсенијевић 1997, 44, nap. 7; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 163, note
28. Kept in a private collection.
15 Петровић 1930, 88-119; Mirnik 1981, 63, No. 81; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković
2008, 162-163, note 27.
16 Roman bricks were found in several places in Veliko Orašje, near the point where the Jasenica runs into
the Velika Morava river, as well as one brick tomb (looted on discovery), and ceramic kilns with remains
of Roman vessels, near the so-called ‘Veliki Vir’. A hoard of silver coins, deposited in a ceramic vessel, was
3
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
It stems from this that all currently known joint finds from the immediate or
close vicinity of Mezul (Map 2) are dated between 247 and 254 AD, which will be
elaborated in greater detail in the closing discussion.
In the mentioned report about the Mezul I hoard, Pavlović stated that the find
consisted of denarii and antoniniani, without saying how many of either. We are
providing the composition of the hoard, with comments according to Pavlović, in
Table 1:17
Caracalla 1
Elagabalus 8
Gordian III (some specimens from the Antioch mint) 145
Philip I 67
Philip II (with the legend CAES – 9 pcs; with AVG – 3 pcs) 12
Otacilia Severa 17
Trajan Decius 1
Herennia Etruscilla 1
Uncleaned, mostly Gordian’s 20
Total 272
Table 1 – Composition of the Mezul I hoard according to L. Pavlović from 1972.
The co-author of this text, M. Vojvoda, performed a detailed review of the
hoard in the National Museum in Smederevo, about which she made a report. On
that occasion, the coins were classified according to the rulers and determined
according to RIC. The problem observed at that time postponed the publication
of this hoard by more than two decades. Namely, 321 coins were counted in the
batch that was kept in the Museum at that time as the Mezul I hoard.18 The dif-
ference in the count of 49 (from 272 to 321) called for a more studious inspection
of the find and the separation of the coins that were subsequently added to the
bag. Besides, it was clearly observed that six specimens from the original compo-
sition were missing. The authors of the text performed this daunting task in 2018
and 2019 with the aim of reconstructing the original composition of the find. The
count of the coins and representation of rulers are presented in Table 2.
Authority Pcs 1996-2018/2019 difference since 1972
Caracalla / -1
Elagabalus 4 -4
Gordian III 212 + 67
Philip I 74 +7
Otacilia Severa 16 -1
Philip II 12 no difference
discovered on the railway road in 1882. According to S. M. Stojanović, the vessel contained over 200 pieces,
and the two specimens, which he saw, were the property of M. Stojanović, a local merchant. He mentions
that the hoard had been dispersed, i.e. that ‘the best preserved were purchased by foreigners and several
pieces were sent to our museum,’ cf. Стојановић, 1887, 63.
17 Павловић 1972, 73.
18 All specimens (321) were kept in a canvas bag until 1996, when they were divided and packaged separately.
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
5
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
As was mentioned, the Mezul I hoard was discovered on August 19th, 1966
and soon purchased for the National Museum in Smederevo,19 so we can presume
that the count of 272 coins represents, if not the entire find, then the greatest part
of the original number. An indication of this is the report of L. Pavlović in which
there is no mention of the dissipation of the hoard.20 This was even more reason
for the authors of the text to set about the daunting task of reconstructing the
original composition, which had been compromised over the years due to unfor-
tunate circumstances. While being aware of the possible error of the applied sys-
tem of elimination, which could carry the possibility of an unintended mistake,
we believe that, by implementing our knowledge and experience in the profes-
sional processing of numismatic finds, we managed to reconstruct the original
composition of the Mezul I hoard in the closest possible way.
Sadly, the oldest specimen of Caracalla from the Mezul I hoard is lost (Appen-
dix to Catalogue 1), so we cannot know with certainty whether it was a denarius
or an antoninianus. L. Pavlović is not completely clear when saying: ‘Larger de-
narii in this Mezul find weigh 3.90 gr, while antoniniani are larger than denarii
1.50 of Caracalla’.21 Although in the sphere of assumption, Pavlović’s record could
signal the possibility that the specimen was an antoninianus and, if that conclu-
sion is true, this would indicate that the oldest specimen in the hoard belonged to
the period of the sole reign of Caracalla.
Next are the remaining four (of the original eight; Appendix to Catalogue 1)
antoniniani of the Rome mint, issued for Elagabalus (Catalogue 1, Nos. 1-4). They
have three different types of reverse representations and all belong to the group
of undated issues.
The most numerous in the Mezul I find are issues of Gordian III (159 pcs),
136 of which represent issues of the Rome and 23 of the Antioch mint. Only one
denarius of the fourth issue of the Rome mint is recorded (Catalogue 1, No. 111),
while the rest are antoniniani. The large number of specimens enables the classi-
fication according to issues and officinae (Table 4),22 with a measure of caution,
providing that the original composition of the find had been reconstructed in a
satisfactory manner.23
Issue 1/2 Officina 1 Officina 2 Officina 3 Total
RIC 1 5 3 2 4
Mezul I pcs 5 2 4 3 2 16
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
7
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
8
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
28 Eddy 1967, 87-97, 97 (Antioch), 98 (Viminacium, Mediolanum). We do not deal with Eddy’s discussion and
reasons for the given classification, here.
29 RIC IV/3, p. 111.
30 RIC IV/3, p. 121.
9
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
utes this specimen to the same mint and issue, with the same chronology.31 M.
Vasić accepts that Decius’ type RIC IV/3 No. 29(c) is an issue of the Rome mint,
but dates it in the period 249-250.32 On the other hand, the hair style of the em-
press on Etruscilla’s antoninianus with Pudicitia seated on the reverse (RIC 59b)
leads him to claim that, as J. Fitz observed earlier, the mint was the one in Vimi-
nacium, and dates the coin in the interval from the winter of 250 to 251 AD, as the
third Viminacium issue.33
The large number of hoards of coins testify to barbarian raids which primar-
ily jeopardized Dacia, Moesia Inferior and Thracia34 and, indirectly, Moesia Su-
perior. Written sources for that period are scarce and insufficiently reliable, and
the degree of archaeological exploration in the field is poor. Thus, when dating
the barbarian raids and interpreting the direction of their movement, researchers
rely on data based on hoards of coins, despite the fact that the majority of them
are incomplete or have not been published in their entirety, and cannot represent
a completely reliable historical source.35
It is generally accepted that the barbarian invasions of the Balkan provinces be-
gan in 238 AD, during the reign of emperors Pupienus and Balbinus, by the Carpi
and Scythians – the Scythians being the Sarmatians and the Goths.36 The next raid
by the Goths and the Carpi is connected to 242 AD and the reign of Gordian III,
when the major offensive against Persia37 had to be postponed by several months
because of the conflict with them. The invasion from the beginning of the reign of
Philip I38 is mentioned as the next one, when the Pannonian area was affected by the
raid of the Germanic Quadi, and areas around the lower course of the Danube Riv-
er were particularly affected by the raids of the Carpi.39 Numerous coin hoards tes-
tify about how serious the danger was from the Carpi, who threatened mainly Da-
cia and, to a lesser extent, Moesia Inferior. Seven hoards from this period originate
from Moesia Superior, of which only the Podrimce hoard is dated in the first period
10
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
of the reign of Philip I (244-245),40 the Mezul II hoard in 247 AD and four hoards
(Sikirica,41 Kremenica,42 Skoplje,43 Kalemegdan44) in the period 248-249 AD. The
latest specimens (245-247 AD) from the Kamenica hoard are kept in the Nation-
al Museum in Belgrade, although we will probably never be able to reliably recon-
struct the composition of this impressive and largely dispersed find.45
New barbarian invasions and an unstable internal political and military situa-
tion, primarily the usurpation by Pacatianus and proclamation of Decius as em-
peror, marked the years 248 and 249 in the Balkan provinces. Although the bar-
barians did not directly threaten Moesia Superior with their devastating raids, it
became the centre of significant internal turmoil.46 So far, eight hoards deposited
during the reign of Trajan Decius were discovered in Moesia Superior,47 the rea-
sons for depositing being connected with the tumultuous internal events from
the end of the reign of Philip I and with Pacatianus’ usurpation.48 Of these eight
hoards, one was discovered in the south of the province (Klisurica), the other in
the north (Mezul I), while others are connected with its eastern part. It is known
that Trajan Decius temporarily resided in the Balkans during two years of his reign
and battled with the barbarians in Moesia Inferior, Thrace and Dacia.49 Generally,
the period from 248 to 254 AD was continuously filled by internal and external
events, especially in the eastern Balkan provinces.50 An exceptionally large num-
ber of hoards from this period are definitely linked with them. However, it is of-
ten impossible to positively attribute them to a particular raid by the barbarians,
40 Стаменковић 2005, 143-191; Црнобрња 2008, 20,23; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2016, 23.
41 Vasić 1972, 57-62; Марић 1956, 180, No. 9; Mirnik 1981, 69, No. 214; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2016, 7-101.
42 Janković-Mihaldžić 1987, 89-105; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2016, 22.
43 Kubitschek 1908, 37-47; Васић 2015, 105.
44 Црнобрња 2008, 20, 23; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2016, 22.
45 It is known that the Kamenica hoard contained more coins than the one from Reka Devnija (more than
100,000 specimens). Contradictory reports from the time of discovery do not provide reliable information
about the total number of coins in the hoard when it was found. For a detailed report about written and
verbal statements about the number of specimens from the time of discovery of the hoard, cf. Bertol-Stipetić
and Nađ 2016, 14-21. About the Niš part of the find, cf. Janković-Mihaldžić 2005, 50-51. About the Belgrade
part of the find, cf. Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2016, 23-24. About the Zagreb part of the find, cf. Bertol-
Stipetić and Nađ 2016.
46 Moesia Superior was not in direct danger from barbarian raids, but was in jeopardy from serious internal
turmoil, where Viminacium and its mint were an important centre. About a detailed description of events
regarding invasions and usurpations in 248/249 and 250/251 AD, cf. Vasić 2012, 9-19 with bibliography.
47 Hoards that end with specimens of Traјan Decius: Mezul I; Klisurica (unpublished; kept in the National
Museum in Belgrade); Ratiaria, General Marinovo, Gradec, Graničak, Kosovo, Rakovica (for all hoards,
cf. Върбанов 2017, 3-4, nos 8, 9, 13, 17, 22).
48 The usurpation of Pacatianus can be dated as being from April 248 to April/May 249 AD. He held both
Moesiae and Pannoniae, while Dacia remained loyal to Philip I. After the assassination of Pacatianus, the
Pannonian troops proclaimed Traјan Decius emperor. In that period, the barbarians crossed the Danube
and raided Moesia Inferior and Thrace on two occasions, in 248 and 249 AD (Vasić 2012, 9-10).
49 Touratsoglou 2006, 140-141.
50 A notably smaller number of hoards was discovered in the neighbouring western provinces: Pannonia
Inferior (Sirmium, Aquincum I, Pilisszanto), while there are no such known finds in Pannonia Superior,
Noricum and Dalmatia. There are also no hoards from this period in the province of Macedonia. Besides
the silver imperial coins, the first two of the mentioned hoards from Pannonia Inferior have specimens of
provincial coinage (mostly from the Viminacium mint and a few coins with the marking ‘Provincia Dacia’).
11
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
even with a reign known on the basis of the terminus post quem, for several rea-
sons. In the first place, this is because a large number of the known hoards from
this period cannot be used as a reliable historic source, because of their uncertain
integrity and incomplete information about the conditions of discovery. Besides,
constant pressure from the barbarians during the frequent short-lived reigns of
emperors opens the possibility for assumptions that, for example, hoards that end
with specimens of Philip I from 247-249 AD were deposited during the reign of
Trajan Decius, and suchlike.51
After the defeat and death of Decius, the Balkan provinces were exposed to
constant attacks by the Goths and their allies over an extended period. Neither
Trebonianus Gallus, nor Aemilian, were capable of pushing them back across the
Danube.52 Besides, the situation was additionally complicated by the great plague
epidemic, which engulfed the entire empire in 252-253 AD.53 Sources also men-
tion the intense persecution of Christians from the time of Decius to the death of
Valerian I.54 A far greater presence of hoards was observed in Moesia Superior,
compared with the previous period, and the neighbouring provinces, during the
reign of Trebonianus Gallus and Aemilian. As many as 17 hoards from this pe-
riod were registered,55 mostly concentrated around the Velika Morava and Južna
Morava river valleys, with the exception of the hoard from the village of Izvore,
near Kosovska Mitrovica, and four hoards from the east of Moesia Superior, in the
territory of present-day Bulgaria.
51 Gazdăc 2012, 176 with bibliography. For a detailed review of all opinions, presented so far in connection
with barbarian invasions, their directions and hoards of coins from this period, cf. Върбанов 2017, 268-274.
52 About detailed historical circumstances in Moesia Inferior and Thrace and the hoards that were connected
with them, with listings from earlier literature, cf. Върбанов 2017, 308-318.
53 The plague epidemic lasted from the time of Trebonianus Gallus, right up to the time of Claudius II (Alföldi
1971, 167-168, 171, 198, 227-228; Mócsy 1974, 205; Touratsoglou 2006, 142).
54 Alföldi 1971, 166-168, 202-207; Lietzman 1971, 520-522; Baynes 1971 656-658.
55 Hoards (13) that end with specimens of Trebonianus Gallus: Ćićevac (Рашковић 1997, 114-117;
Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 162-163, note 27); Unknown location
2 (Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 162-163, note 27. Unpublished; kept in the National Museum
in Belgrade); Bošnjane (Борић-Брешковић 1988, 89-101; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković
and Stamenković 2008, 162-163, note 27; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2018, 78-79, note 14); vicinity of
Vranje (Борић-Брешковић 1988, 89-96; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008,
162-163, note 27); Brežane (Вулић 1905, 92-93; Mirnik 1981, 60-61, No. 156; Арсенијевић 2004, 228;
Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 162-163, note 27; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2018, 87); Izvore
(Стаменковић и Самарџић 2013, 163-182; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2018, 78-79, note 14); Glibovac
(supra note 15); Unknown location 1 (Saria 1924, 90-95; Mirnik 1981, 70-71, No. 224; Арсенијевић 2004,
228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 162-163, note 27. Unpublished; kept in the National Museum in
Belgrade); vicinity of Jagodina (Pegan 1970, 74; Mirnik 1981, 72, No. 233a; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-
Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 162-163, note 27); Belo Pole, Kladorub, Kosovo and Major Uzunovo
(about all four hoards, cf. Върбанов 2017, 2-4, Nos. 5, 15, 16 and 19). Hoards (4) that end with specimens of
Aemilian: Kruševac – Jagodina (Kubitschek 1900, 185-194; Mirnik 1981, 65, No. 183; Рашковић 1995, 198;
Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 163, note 28); Vlajića Brdo II (supra note
14); Popovac (Борић-Брешковић 1979, 39-54; Борић-Брешковић 1983, 72, note 21; Арсенијевић 2004,
228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 163, note 28); vicinity of Ćuprija (Борић-Брешковић 1983,
69-84; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 163, note 28).
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
With the rise to power of Valerian I in autumn 253 AD, who immediately
named Gallienus as Augustus and co-ruler,56 usurpation attempts were suppressed
for a while,57 but barbarian attacks intensified. By 253 AD already, Valerian I was
forced to organise a campaign to defend the eastern borders.58 On his way east-
wards, he passed through the Bassianic section of the limes, between December
10th and 31st, 253, probably by way of Singidunum and Viminacium.59 It is pre-
sumed that the Marcomanni, Quadi and Yazigi raided Pannonia simultaneous-
ly at that time (253 AD).60 The same region was also attacked by the Marcoman-
ni in 254 AD, when they reached Italy and Ravenna, forcing Gallienus to retreat
from a part of Pannonia Superior.61 That year is also connected with the raid of
the Goths, who once again crossed the Danube, pillaged Thrace and Macedonia
and reached Thessaloniki.62 Besides the mentioned external threats, we recollect
the other, simultaneous hardships, like the plague epidemic, banditry, the inten-
sive spoiling of coins and a difficult economic situation.
The biggest number of coin hoards from Moesia Superior that were deposit-
ed during the joint reign of Valerian I and Gallienus, are dated in 254 AD (11).63
The hoards were distributed south of the Danube, along the valley of the Velika
and Južna Morava rivers, indicating the size of the region that was under threat.
The barbarians’ raid of Pannonia undoubtedly contributed to instability in north-
east Dalmatia and Moesia Superior. M. Mirković believes that the purpose of the
raid of the Sarmatian tribe of Yazigi in 254 AD was pillaging and that it targeted
the mining areas around the Drina River (Krupanj and, probably, Srebrenica in
Dalmatia), and some mines in Dardania in central Moesia Superior.64 The hoard
56 The beginning of the reign of Valerian I was in September or the first days of October, 253 AD (Alföldi 1967,
347; Alföldi 1971, 169; Lallemand 1972, 17-18; Vasić 2005, 38; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 175;
Kienast 2010, 214).
57 The period of domination of the Illyrian troops ended with the rise to power of Valerian I and Gallienus.
Their anti-Illyrian policy resulted in the fact that, after 253 AD, no command positions were occupied by
officers from Illyricum (Mócsy 1974, 205).
58 Alföldi 1971, 170, 181.
59 Dušanić 1965, 95-98; Kondić 1969, 21-22, Mirković 1977, 253-254, Doyen 1988, 44-45.
60 Alföldi 1967, 312, 360; Alföldi 1971, 139, 181.
61 Alföldi 1967, 312-313, 322, 330, note 73, 360; Васић 1967, 72, notes 49-50; Alföldi 1971, 139, 147. This raid
also affected Illyricum (Alföldi 1967, 322; Васић 1967, 72, note 52; Alföldi 1971, 147).
62 Alföldi 1967, 322, 360; Васић 1967, 72, nap. 51; Alföldi 1971, 147, 181; Touratsoglou 2006, 142-143; Borić-
Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 175; Gazdăc 2012, 176.
63 Belgrade (Kondić 1969; Mirnik 1981, 60, No. 152; Арсенијевић 2004, 227; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković
2008, 163-164, notes 29-32); Smederevo (supra note 12); Supska I (Mirnik 1981, 71, No. 232; Арсенијевић
2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 157-207); Sikirica III (Војвода и Срндаковић 2015, 31-
88); Jablanica (Васић 1967, 63-82; Mirnik 1981, 63, No. 176; Рашковић 1995, 202; Арсенијевић 2004, 228;
Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 160, note 19); Parcane (Рашковић 1995, 202-203; Арсенијевић
2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 161, note 20); Unknown location 1 (Borić-Brešković
and Stamenković 2008, 161, note 23. Unpublished; kept in the National Museum in Belgrade); Vlajića
brdo I (supra note 13); Gornje Štiplje (Арсенијевић и Додић 2004, 235-250; Арсенијевић 2004, 228;
Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 160, note 16); Bujkovac (Борић-Брешковић и Митровић 2014,
87-134; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 161, note 121); Priboj Vranjski
(Митровић 1999, 19-37; Митровић 2008, 209-217; Борић-Брешковић и Митровић 2014, 89, note 9.
Unpublished; kept in the National Museum in Vranje).
64 Mirković 1977, 249-257; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 176, notes 89-90.
13
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
from Dvorska in the territory of Dalmatia,65 and the hoards dated to the same
time from Pannonia Inferior,66 can also be linked with the mentioned events. At
the same time, a significant decline in the number of coin hoards was observed in
Dacia, Moesia Inferior and Thracе, compared with the previous period.67.
It is clear from this summary review of the historical events of 247-254 AD in the
Danubian region, that the legions’ activities in the neighbouring provinces, as well
as in Moesia Superior as their immediate hinterland, was very prominent. The
overall insecurity caused by the barbarians’ raids and constant internal turmoil
undoubtedly disturbed not only the military, but also the population.
Despite all the uncertainties regarding conclusions about the Mezul I hoard, we
can assume that the period of its thesaurisation lasted around 50 years (Caracalla
– Trajan Decius), and that it was the savings of two or three generations. Namely,
opinions have been put forward that hoards for which a longer period of
thesaurisation is observed are considered to have been the property of one family
and connected with agricultural estates.68 The position of Mezul in a farming
district in the immediate hinterland of Aures Mons, Vinceia and Viminacium, and
the proximity of the main Balkan communication route, but also of the vicinal
route which, by all accounts, passed directly next to Mezul,69 can lead one to the
conclusion that the hoard belonged to the owner of an agricultural holding.
The majority of coin hoards deposited in the 3rd century in the territory of
Moesia Superior were discovered near main or vicinal roads. On the other hand,
it is known that agricultural holdings were created in the vicinity of roads, so that
produce could be transported to consumers more quickly and easily.70 The con-
nection between villae rusticae and roads was archaeologically confirmed for cer-
tain coin hoards from the territory of present-day Serbia.71 Still, connecting the
65 The hoard from Dvorska also belongs to this horizon from the territory of present-day Serbia but, according
to the division of Roman provinces, it was located within the Roman province of Dalmatia (Vasić 1972, 58,
60, 62-65; Mirnik 1981, 62, No. 168; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008, 160, note 14).
66 Five hoards are dated to 254: Janja (Mиљанић 1997, 31-41), Intercisa III (Gazdăc 2010, Map 9), Oštra Luka
I, II and III (Demo 1982, 355-358).
67 Depeyrot and Moisil 2008, 272, Nos. 88-92; Gazdăc 2010, Map 9; Върбанов 2017, 131, Nos. 2-22 (Moesia
Inferior) – of these, seven hoards are determined as being from the joint reign and two from the independent
reign, while the tpq has not been determined for the others; Nos. 23-34 (Thrace) – of these, one is dated to
the joint reign and two to the independent reign, while the rest are without the tpq.
68 Vasić 1972, 62.
69 Васић 2015, 118.
70 Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2013, 13; Васић 2015, 118-119; Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2016, 11.
71 For the discovery locations of coin hoards from the 3rd century, from the broader vicinity of Kragujevac and
their connection with agricultural estates that gravitate towards main or vicinal roads, cf. Рашковић 2009,
16-23; for villae rusticae in Mačva and the Drina River basin, their connection with the communication
system, and for discoveries of coin hoards from this region, cf. Vasić 1985, 124-141; the composition of
hoards from Dvorska (tpq. 254) and Donje Crniljevo (tpq. 259/260) indicates successive savings over a
longer period. And while the find from Donje Crniljevo can be determined reliably as the savings of the
owner of the villa, there is no precise data about the conditions of discovery for the hoard from Dvorska, cf.
Vasić 2005, 64. The smaller find from Podrimce in the vicinity of Leskovac (tpq. 244/245) is linked with the
remains of a villa rustica, cf. Стаменковић 2005, 151; For a summary of known hoards 252/253 and 254 on
the basis of which those with a longer thesaurisation period can be distinguished (Vlajića Brdo I: Trajan –
Valerian I/Gallienus; Jablanica: Diva Faustina I – Gallienus), although the majority begin with specimens
of S. Severus and family and end with Volusian/Aemilian/Valerian/Gallienus (Glibovac, Serbia unknown
14
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
discovery location, Belgrade – Cara Dušana Street, Smederevo), and for their mapping, from which the
connection of all these hoards with the main Balkan communication route – the via militaris – can clearly
be seen, cf. Borić-Brešković and Stamenković 2008,159-161, notes 14-21; Map on 165; the Roman treasure
from Čortanovci (tpq. 210) is connected with the remains of a villa rustica that were discovered near the
village, cf. Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda 2011, 13-14, n. 21; the hoard from Mehovine (tpq. 238; Nero-
Maximinus I) was discovered in the immediate vicinity of a villa rustica, cf. Borić-Brešković and Vojvoda
2012, 28, n. 21;
72 M. Vasić cites as examples the hoards Mezul II and Sikirica, claiming that: »...the very large number of
denarii, compared to that of antoniniani, leads to the assumption that denarii were carefully collected, either
for the purpose of a trade speculation or just as defence against the weak currency of their time. All that is
more indicative of a property being well-managed, than of a reckless soldier« cf. Vasić 1972, 62.
73 This applies primarily to the hoards from the village of Ravna and from Kalemegdan, which are believed to
have been the property of soldiers, cf. Кондић 1983, 51; Црнобрња 2008, 19-20; Găzdac 2012, 174; besides,
we should also mention several coin hoards discovered within military fortifications in the territory of
Dacia, cf. Dudău 2006, 62-74.
74 Васић 2015, 118.
15
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
River at Ćuprija. The discovery locations of the coin hoards that have been found
so far correspond to this course of the road (Map 2).
The higher concentration of registered sites along the assumed road Vinceia
(Smederevo) – Smederevska Palanka also indicates this course of the vicinal road.
These are the sites around the villages of Bačinac, Vlaški Do, Golobok, Grčac,
Kamenac (now the territory of the city of Smederevska Palanka) (Map 2). Regis-
tered sites also exist on the assumed route that started from Aureus Mons, though
fewer (Drugovac, Selevac, border of the areas of Velika Krsna and Azanja). Thus,
a large quantity of Roman bricks, tegulae, imbrices and ceramics were registered
in the process of reconnoitring, next to the road between Selevac and Kolari, in
the area of the village of Drugovac, on the archaeological site of Konjska. Ro-
man bronze coins were also found, which were not identified at the time because
they were poorly preserved.75 Fragments of Roman bricks were discovered in Se-
levac, on the site of Lazićski Kraj, and between Selevac and Bačinac in the area of
Točak.76 Archaeological sites registered in the present-day Azanja could also have
been located on the course of this local road but, since they are close to the site
at Grčac, they could also have been connected to the other suggested local road.
Besides, four archaeological sites in the south-west area of Azanja gravitate to-
wards the village of Kusadak and, considering the current degree of exploration,
we cannot tell which road they were connected to with certainty. Neither should
one exclude the possibility that the registered remains represent the remains of
villae rusticae in the immediate vicinity of the local road Vinceia – present-day
Smederevska Palanka, or on the route towards Kosmaj.
Remains of walls of a structure from the Roman period appear in Azanja, on the
site of Boževac, already at a depth of 0.20 m. A sestertius of Gordian III was discov-
ered in the same place, minted in the provincial mint of Viminacium, on the basis
of which this structure of unknown purpose was dated.77 About 150 Roman bricks
and two tegulae were discovered during agricultural works on the archaeological
site of Obzovje, north-east of the present-day centre of Azanja and at approximately
4.5 km west of Mezul. The bricks were found in a row that was about 6 metres long,
with six bricks per row and no traces of mortar. The team of the National Museum
from Smederevska Palanka who were present during the excavation of the bricks
concluded that the find was a depot of unused construction material. The image of
a man with an emphasised phallus was imprinted on one of the bricks, while six dif-
75 Field report No. 163, of November 11th, 1972 (documentation of the National Museum Smederevska
Palanka; hereinafter: doc. NMSP). The reconnoitring of all archaeological sites mentioned in the paper
was performed by the team of the National Museum from Smederevska Palanka (Voja Novaković, Radovan
Milošević and Aleksandar Novaković) between 1968 and 1972, about which there are unpublished field
reports in the Museum’s documentation. Milica Stojanović and Dragana Đurđević checked in the field and
verified some of the earlier information in 2016. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to colleagues
Stojanović and Đurđević from the Museum in Smederevska Palanka for making the documentation available
and for help during scanning. We would also like to refer to the habitational work by Vesna Skačkov for the
title of curator, defended in the National Museum in Belgrade in 2004, with the title: ‘Roman archaeological
sites in the territory of the municipality of Smederevska Palanka’ (unpublished).
76 Field report No. 163, of November 11th, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
77 List of archaeological sites September 28th, 1968 (doc. NMSP). The year of minting of the coin is not mentioned.
16
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Map 2 - SD (Smederevo Hoard), M. I/II (Mezul I and Mezul II hoards), V.B. I/II (Vlajića brdo I and Vlajića brdo II
hoards), G (Glibovac hoard), VO (Veliko Orašje hoard), R (Rudnik), K (Kosmaj); * (archaeological sites from the Ro-
man period registered by reconnoitring).
17
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
ferent prints were registered on the others (geometrically), besides prints of animal
paws. Large quantities of Roman bricks were found again in the process of the fur-
ther reconnoitring of nearby fields, but no ceramics.78
Five archaeological sites with large quantities of Roman bricks and ceramics
were registered in reconnoitring the south-west part of Azanja, towards Kusadak
(Jezelovo, Bačvan, Dolovi, Čorbina and Mali Sipovac).79 Large quantities of Ro-
man bricks, imbrices, ceramics and coins dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries can
be found at about 3 km north-west from the centre of the village, on the road to
Velika Krsna, on the site of Kalendo (Pujanovac).80 The fragmented marble stat-
uette of a satyr, which the finder donated to the Museum in Palanka, originates
from the area of Svinjčine, in the south part of Azanja.81 Vast quantities of Roman
ceramics were found in several places in the neighbouring area of Kruščići, in the
valley of the Rijački creek, together with two coins.82
Far more remains from the Roman period have been registered on the eastern
side of the proposed vicinal road. Numerous remains of Roman bricks and ceram-
ics were discovered in the area of Vlaški Do, around 2 km south-east of Bobovička
Česma (discovery site of the Mezul I hoard – Map 1), on the archaeological sites
of Lozovik and Jančin Bunar. According to testimonies of the locals at the time of
reconnoitring, they had discovered a grave containing coins several years earlier,
which the team from the museum in Smederevska Palanka did not confirm.83 Nu-
merous fragments of Roman ceramics and slightly fewer bricks were found on the
site of Panjevac, to the west of Mezul.84
Several sites (Krak, Točak, Vodice, Stari Golobok, Jemčište) with finds of Ro-
man bricks, tegulae, ceramics and coins were registered at about 3-4 km to the
east of Mezul, in the eastern and north-eastern part of the village of Golobok.85
Six graves, one of which belonged to a child, were discovered on the site of Vukova
Dolina in the north-east part of Golobok in 1974, in the immediate vicinity of the
area of Točak. Five of the deceased were buried freely, one was buried in a wood-
en coffin and all were positioned in an east-west direction. Only one grave con-
tained goods: a jug, a circular application made from glass paste and nine bronze
coins on the chest of the deceased, which indicates that it had been placed in some
78 Field reports No. 106 of December 15th, 1971; No. 201 of May 24th, 1973 (doc. NMSP); Six bricks were
transferred to the Museum in Palanka; cf. Скачков 2004, T. XIX.
79 Field report No. 154 from July 31st to September 9th, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
80 List of archaeological sites No. 12 (doc. NMSP).
81 The statuette is 22 cm high and the head is missing. In. No. 1613 National Museum Smederevska Palanka,
cf. Новаковић, 1970, 39; Скачков 2004, 9, Т. XVI-XVII.
82 Field report No. 66 of December 5th, 1975 (doc. NMSP). No information about the dating of the coins.
83 Field report No. 103 of August 29th, 1971 (doc. NMSP).
84 List of archaeological sites July 11th, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
85 Field report No. 46 of April 11th, 1969 and field report No. 149 of July 6th, 1972 (doc. NMSP). No information
about the dating of the coins.
18
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
kind of bag.86 These monetary finds were issued over a brief period, 334-340 AD.87
We should also mention the report of M. Valtrović about the items that were pur-
chased for the Museum in S. Palanka during 1902, in which he mentioned: ‘cop-
per, silver and gold antiquities from the Roman period, discovered in the village
of Golobok in the Jasenica District...’.88 Several sites: Orašje, Predeli, Ušće poto-
ka Grčac, Novačka Ćuprija jug, and Kamenac, were registered by reconnoitring
to the south of Golobok and Vlaški Do, in the area of the village of Gračac. Large
quantities of Roman bricks and ceramics were found. Bronze coins of Valentinian
I were found at the archaeological site of Orašje.89
Remains of a Roman aqueduct were found in at least eight locations in the
present-day Smederevska Palanka, during construction works, which ran rough-
ly in a northeast-southwest direction, from Vinogradarska Street, beside ‘Opeka’
(the brick manufacturing plant), the streets II Šumadijskog Odreda, Palanačke
Čete, V. Popovića, the corner of Vuka Karadžića and Ive Bajazita, the corner of
Ive Bajazita and Vojvode Mišića. The aqueduct was built from bricks bound by
lime mortar, while the interior of the ducts was plastered with hydraulic mor-
tar. In some places, the water canal was covered with stone plates, in others –
with bricks.90 A tomb with a structure made of bricks was discovered prior to
the founding of the Museum in S. Palanka, in 1952, during the construction of
a house in Ljubice Ivošević Street, in the Mala Kolonija quarter. The grave goods
consisted of one ceramic vessel, several buckles and a crossbow fibula.91
In the south-east part of the city, known as Vlajića Brdo, in Vojvode Putnika
Street, a hoard of Roman coins (Vlajića Brdo I) was discovered during the con-
struction of the water supply system, in May 1969. It was deposited in two ceramic
vessels only fragments of which remained. The team of the Museum in S. Palanka
that came to the location immediately collected 1156 denarii and antoniniani and
136 bronze issues of the provincial mints in Viminacium and Dacia, spanning the
period from Trajan to Gallienus.92 Another hoard of Roman coins (Vlajića Brdo
II) was found in the immediate vicinity in 1970, containing 89 antoniniani from
86 Similar small collective finds were confirmed on multiple occasions in the south necropoles of Viminacium.
Unlike the coins in the mouth of the deceased, these finds are assumed to have been intended for ‘expenses’
in the afterlife, such as marsupium or crumina, cf. Vojvoda i Mrđić 2017, 20-48.
87 Five specimens are issues of Constantine I, two of which belong to the Caesar issues of Constantine II
(minted between 334 and 337 AD). The remaining four are issues of Constantius II from the period of
the co-rulership of Constantine II and Constans (minted from 337 to 340 AD); cf. field report No. 234 of
October 7th, 1974 (doc. NMSP), where these coins are described in detail.
88 Валтровић 1903, 192.
89 Field reports No. 24 of July 2nd, 1968; No. 102 of August 22nd, 1971; No. 122 of March 12th, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
90 Field report No. 124 (Sketches 1-2) of March 22nd, 1972 (doc. NMSP); Скачков 2004, 30. The part of the
aqueduct on the corner of Ivo Bajazit and Vojvoda Mišić streets was discovered during the digging of a
trench for a sewer line in June 1992. According to the way it was built (according to the sketch in the field
report), this aqueduct is analogous with aqueducts 1 and 2, discovered in Viminacium in 2003, cf. Mrđić
2007, 23-26, T. XVIII-XXIII.
91 These items were deposited in the Department for Education of the then District People’s Committee, while
the tomb was broken up. The grave goods were found in the attic of the building of the then City Committee,
from where they were transferred to the National Museum in Smederevska Palanka (inv. No. 1617-1620); cf.
List of Archaeological Sites doc. NMSP.
92 Field report No. 52 of May 21st, 1969 (doc. NMSP); Арсенијевић 1997, 43-108.
19
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Gordian III to Aemilian, but it remained privately owned and was never docu-
mented in detail.93 No other remains from the Roman period were registered in
this part of the city, so it is obvious that the coin hoards were deposited outside the
former structures that were registered in the vicinity. Apart from those in the city
itself, which will be discussed further on in the text, remains of Roman bricks, teg-
ulae, ceramics and Roman coins of Gordian III were registered at about 5.5 km to
the east of Vlajića Brdo, downstream the Jasenica River, in the area of the village
of Kruševo, on the Čelopek site.94
In the centre of S. Palanka, remains of Roman bricks, tegulae, a bronze brace-
let made from twisted wire and five coins were found in Glavaševa Street during
construction works, in two places, in 1970 and 1972.95 Continuing along Glavaše-
va towards Glibovac, at the exit from the city, the archaeological site of Drenovača
can be found on the south side of the present-day street, while the Ivak site is lo-
cated on the north side of that street. A smaller quantity of Roman bricks was reg-
istered on the first site, while a larger concentration of bricks and Roman ceramics
were found on the Ivak site.96
As stated earlier, we believe that the numerous mentioned finds from the Ro-
man period can confirm the second assumed route, proposed by M. Vasić, of
the vicinal road, from Vinceia (Smederevo), through present-day Vlaški Do to
Smederevska Palanka and farther, southwards.97 The discovery location in the
village of Stojačak, on the Vlaovica site, is probably connected with this south-
ward route. A tomb was discovered here, from which a bronze bracelet made from
twisted wire and three coins originated. Roman ceramics can be found closer to
the centre of Stojačak, on the slope towards the Maskar creek.98 The remains of the
aqueduct in the city itself, including the tomb, lend credibility to the thesis that a
smaller settlement was located here in Roman times, at the intersection of the vic-
inal roads. Namely, besides the vicinal road mentioned by M. Vasić, data from the
field indicate that two other vicinal roads ran from Smederevska Palanka, which
approximately followed the routes of the modern-day roads: to the north-west by
way of Glibovac, Kusadak, Rabrovac towards Kosmaj; to the south-west through
Cerovac, Bašine, Kloka towards Rudnik.99
Going from Smederevska Palanka along the proposed north-west route to-
wards Kosmaj, one arrives in the area of the village of Glibovac, where a hoard of
Roman coins was discovered on the site of Bubanja, which was purchased in 1919
93 V. Novaković, text in the manuscript for the catalogue of the planned but unheld exhibition ‘Money and
Time’, p. 18 (doc. NMSP); Арсенијевић 1997, 44, note 7.
94 Field report No. 175 of November 16th, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
95 Glavaševa Street, yard of Olivera Matić and yard of Cvetankа Đorđević; cf. field report No. 167 of October
15th, 1972 (doc. NMSP). No information about the dating of coins.
96 Field reports No. 47 of April 21st, 1969; No. 118 of March 9th, 1972; Nos. 168, 170, 172 of October 26th to 31st,
1972 (doc. NMSP).
97 Васић 2015, 118.
98 Field report No. 29 of June 28th, 1968 (doc. NMSP). There is no detailed information about the monetary
finds, except that they were two denarii and ‘one small bronze’. They are dated broadly to the 3rd century.
99 On the basis of registered archaeological sites in the territory of the Smederevska Palanka municipality.
20
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
by the then Art and History Museum (National Museum in Belgrade). The hoard
consists of 375 denarii and antoniniani spanning the period from Gordian III to
Trebonianus Gallus.100 No remains from the Roman period were registered in the
reconnoitring in 1972 of the vineyard where the hoard was found, while many
fragments of Roman ceramics were found to the east of this slope, in the valley.
The next registered sites were found in the area of the village of Kusadak. The fa-
mous cameo made from sardonyx, dating from the third decade of the 4th century
and kept in the National Museum in Belgrade, was discovered here at the end of
the 19th century.101 Several sites with the remains of Roman bricks and ceramics
were discovered in the process of reconnoitring the terrain in this village: Čitluk,
Brestovica and Bojanac, while a necropolis was registered in the section of Buban-
ja.102 Large quantities of Roman ceramics can also be found on the other side of
the present-day road, but in the area of the village of Rabrovac, on the slope de-
scending towards the Veliki Lug creek.103
Our knowledge of sites from the Roman period currently ends in the segment of
the proposed vicinal road S. Palanka – Kosmaj at about eight km east of Mladeno-
vac. It certainly can be assumed that they also exist in this segment, analogous to the
Roman-period discovery sites in the well-explored broader vicinity of Mount Kos-
maj,104 which extends several kilometres westwards from present-day Mladenovac.
A site (near the graveyard) with finds of Roman ceramics was discovered on
the second proposed route of the south-west vicinal road from S. Palanka, in the
centre of the village of Cerovac. Three other sites where bricks and ceramics were
found (Kutrice, Polje and Birović) are located in the south-east part of the village,
towards the valley of the Jasenica River. One more site (Ušće Žednog Potoka) was
registered in their immediate vicinity, on the border between the areas of Cerovac
and Bašin. Fragments of Roman ceramics were also found on the right bank of
what is now the Jasenica river bed, towards the village of Mramorac, opposite the
Birović site, in the Pečeneg area.105 Finds of Roman bricks and ceramics were reg-
istered in the area of Bašin, on the slope that descends towards the Kloka creek,
on the Kod Bresta site.106 We complete the review of registered archaeological sites
with data for the area of the village of Kloka, where a large quantity of Roman ce-
ramics and some bricks were registered on the site of Bujkovac-west (the right
bank of the Kloka creek).107
100 Петровић 1930, 88-119, Mirnik 1981, 63, No. 81; Арсенијевић 2004, 228; Borić-Brešković and Stamenković
2008, 162-163, note 27.
101 Known in earlier literature as the ‘cameo from Kusadak,’ and as the ‘Belgrade cameo’ in more recent literature,
National Museum Belgrade Inv. No. 116/IV; cf. Popović and Borić-Brešković 2013, 301, Cat. 48 with literature.
102 Field reports No. 74 of April 20th, 1970; No. 82 of July 15th, 1970; No. 136 of May 1st, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
103 List of archaeological sites No. 66 (doc. NMSP).
104 Борић Брешковић и Црнобрња 2015, 27-41, 123, Сл. 7.
105 Field reports No. 134 of April 29th, 1972; No. 137 of May 2nd, 1972; No. 140 of June 8th, 1972; 141 of June 9th,
1972 (doc. NMSP).
106 Field report No. 142 of June 15th, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
107 Field report No. 174 of November 10th, 1972 (doc. NMSP).
21
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
22
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
CATALOGUE
References
RIC IV/2 = H. Mattingly, E. Sydenham, Roman Imperial Coinage IV/2, Macrinus to
Pupienus, London 1938.
RIC IV/3 = H. Mattingly, E. Sydenham , C. H. V. Sutherland, Roman Imperial Coinage
IV/3, Gordian III – Uranius Antoninus, London 1949.
CATALOGUE 1
Coins that may have belonged to the initial composition of
the Mezul I hoard
23
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
24
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
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Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
27
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
29
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
31
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
33
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
34
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
35
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
36
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
37
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
38
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
39
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
40
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
41
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
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Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
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ing RIC
Axis
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
APPENDIX TO CATALOGUE 1
Coins that were missing, related to the initial composition of
the Mezul I hoard
Caracalla – 1 pc.
Elagabalus – 4 pcs.
Otacillia Severa – 1 pc.
266 pcs. (Catalogue 1) + 6 pcs. (Appendix to Catalogue 1) = 272 pcs. (the initial
composition of the hoard)
CATALOGUE 2
Coins, which we believe, were added subsequently to the initial
composition of the Mezul I hoard
8 IMP CAES M ANT LIBERALITAS AVG III 5.06 IV/3, p. 23, May (?)
GORDIANVS AVG 22.62 no. 67 – end of
S 240
43
Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
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Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
44
HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
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Bojana BORIĆ–BREŠKOVIĆ and Mirjana VOJVODA
Weight (g)
Date
Cat. Diameter
Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
Axis
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Weight (g)
Date
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Obverse Reverse RIC accord-
No. (mm)
ing RIC
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
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HOARD OF ROMAN COINS FROM THE VICINITY OF SMEDEREVO MEZUL I (DOBRI DO I)
Бојана Борић-Брешковић
Народни музеј у Београду
Мирјана Војвода
Археолошки институт Београд
САЖЕТАК
55