The Cunetio Treasure, also known as the Mildenhall Treasure, is the largest hoard of Roman coins discovered in Great Britain. This significant find was unearthed in 1978 at the site of the Roman town of Cunetio, near present-day Mildenhall, Wiltshire. The hoard comprised an astounding 54,951 coins, primarily of low denomination, and they were stored in a large pot encased in a lead container. Today, these coins are held in the British Museum, while the pot is on display at the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes.
The town of Cunetio evolved from a small settlement into a thriving economic hub in the region, which likely accounts for the concentration of coins discovered there. In 1912, excavations of a nearby well yielded 102 coins, possibly from another hoard. Another smaller hoard was uncovered at the same site in 1960.
The 1978 hoard, however, stands as the most impressive find, consisting of 54,951 coins that collectively weighed over 180 kilograms (390 pounds). While most of these coins were of low value and radiated type, a notable number of Antoniniani were also present, some dating back to the reign of Gallienus (253-268 AD). The majority of the coins, however, hailed from the independent empire established in Gaul by Postumus in 260 AD. At the time of its discovery, the Cunetio hoard was the largest Roman coin hoard found in Britain, though larger hoards were discovered in other regions, such as Misrata in Libya, Evreux in France (with 100,000 coins), and Comin, Croatia (with 300,000 coins).
In 2009, the site of the hoard and the broader settlement were investigated and excavated as part of the television program Time Team, broadcast on Channel 4, shedding further light on this remarkable archaeological discovery.