London – An amateur archaeologist with a metal detector has discovered a coin with the image of a man and woman having sex. On the opposite side is XIIII – note we currently use the Roman numerals XIV for the same number – which historians say may represent the original owner of the coin paid Roman coins, or one day's pay in the first century, to get it.
At the moment experts say it's the first of its kind found in England. The bronze coin was preserved by mud for approximately 2,000 years until it was found.
The amateur archaeologist is pastry chef Regis Cusan, who found it in West London. “The day I made the find it was a very low, early tide and raining heavily. At first I thought it was a Roman coin, because of the thickness and diameter,” he said. “When I rubbed the sand off the artefact the first thing I saw was the number on one side and what I thought was a goddess on the other. Little did I know at the time it was actually a rare Roman brothel token. To find something like that is a truly exciting find.”
The coin, which brings the harsh realities and history of the sex trade industry to light once more, has been donated to the Museum of London. It will be on display for the next three months.
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