Coin Mould, Housesteads Roman Fort

Found in the passage between Buildings 3 and 4 in the settlement outside Housesteads Roman Fort in 1932, this small item is evidence of illegal activity in the civilian settlement at Housesteads. It is a coin mould used to make counterfeit coins of Julia Domna, the wife of Septimius Severus. The side shown here is the reverse, with the goddess Victory holding a wreath and palm. Coinage was controlled by the Emperor and there were harsh punishments for anyone caught counterfeiting.