Nov 17: Pacatian

In 1986 during excavations prior to building the Chells housing estate on the eastern edge of Stevenage, archaeologists recovered a hoard of 2,579 coins. At the time, hoards like this were governed by the medieval law of Treasure Trove. As a result, the coroner split the hoard into two parts, the earlier coins with a higher silver content in one tranche, and the later coins with a very low silver content in a second one. The hoard contained a coin of the usurper Pacatian. Very little is known of this man. He usurped power somewhere in the Danube region, perhaps at Vimnacium. He only lasted a few months, and was murdered by his own troops, probably in AD249. Luckily, the coin was in the earlier tranche.

The road name and the pub celebrate this important hoard.