Roman Coin Moulds Discovered in Castleford – What Do They Tell Us About Ancient Britain?

Castleford has just revealed another fascinating piece of its Roman past—coin moulds used for forging currency nearly two thousand years ago. This latest discovery, found at Ackton Meadows, shines a light on a time of political chaos when money was scarce and people got creative.

And here’s the twist: these weren’t official coins. They were counterfeit.

Ancient counterfeiting – A risky business

The moulds date back to around 260 CE, a time when the Roman Empire was struggling to hold itself together. Civil wars, rebellious generals, and economic instability meant that real coins were hard to come by. Some people in Castleford—whether out of necessity or entrepreneurial spirit—took matters into their own hands.

Instead of using official Roman mints, they made their own coins by casting metal in moulds. Some of these coins were even coated in silver to make them look more valuable. But this was a dangerous game. Under Roman law, coin forgery was a serious crime—one that could get you executed.

More evidence of forgery in West Yorkshire

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time counterfeit Roman coins have been found in the Wakefield area. A similar discovery was made at Lingwell, with moulds dating back to 238 CE—another period of political instability.

Even more intriguing, archaeologists have also found forged coins from the 1st to 4th centuries CE, mostly uncovered in Castleford during excavations in the 1980s. This suggests that illegal coin-making wasn’t just a one-off occurrence—it was a long-standing practice in the region.

And it wasn’t just happening in Castleford. Other forged coin moulds have been found across South Yorkshire, hinting at a regional black-market industry in fake Roman money.

What happens to the moulds now?

For now, the newly discovered coin moulds are in the hands of the West Yorkshire Archive Service. Experts will carefully assess and categorise them before adding them to Wakefield Council’s collection. Once they’re ready, they’ll take their place alongside other Roman artefacts at Castleford Museum—which, by the way, is free to visit.

Why does this matter?

You might be wondering—why does a bunch of ancient forged coins matter today? Well, these discoveries give us a rare glimpse into everyday life in Roman Britain. It’s easy to think of history as being about emperors and battles, but this is about regular people. People who faced economic hardship, adapted to tough times, and maybe took a few risks along the way.

And let’s be honest—there’s something oddly relatable about struggling with money during a financial crisis. Maybe the Roman forgers weren’t so different from us after all.

If you’re curious to see these ancient artefacts up close, head to Castleford Museum and take a step back in time. Who knows? You might just uncover a few more secrets of Roman Castleford.

👉 Find out more: Castleford Museum