STUDY OF THE HOARD OF SILVER COINS NEAR HORODNYTSIA VILLAGE

Abstract

Minting own coin is one of the attributes of state formation. The first coins of the Old Rus are represented by gold and silver specimens dating from the late tenth — early eleventh century. Gold coins are very rare, the silver ones are presented much more. Most modern researchers believe that the production of silver coins was started by Volodymyr Sviatoslavych and ended under Yaroslav Volodymyrovych after the beginning of his reign in Kyiv. In 2020 the third known hoard of silver coins was discovered near Gorodnytsia village, Novohrad-Volynskyi district, Zhytomyr region. It was found accidently by local resident S. M. Komar who in the next day after discovery handed it over to the authorities which was recorded in the relevant documents. The expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine conducted archaeological research at the hoard location. The place where the silver coins have been occurred was recorded. Several more coins were found in the pit where the hoard was and nearby. Surrounding area was examined. Near the hoard the presence of land- and waterways, which functioned in the medieval period, was recorded. Near the river Sluch there are convenient places for crossing. During the exploration of the area adjacent to the hoard in order to study the archaeological context the settlement was discovered. The artifacts found on it date it to the 9th—13th and 16th—18th centuries. Powerful fortifications in the form of moats, ramparts and escarpments have been preserved. Probably, the formation of the silver hoard is connected with the ancient roads along the Sluch River and the Old Rus settlement on the site of the modern settlement of Gorodnytsia. In total 38 silver coins were in the hoard. 31 of them belonged to the minting of Volodymyr Sviatoslavych, and 7 to Sviatopolk Yaropolkovych. Vladimir’s coins are presented in three types — II (6 copies), III (16 copies) and IV (9 copies). Sviatopolk’s coins represent all three of his existing numismatic types — I (4 copies), II (2 copies) and III (1 copy). 10 silver coins of Volodymyr and 1 of Svyatopolk are represented by previously unknown stamp pairs. 2 coins of Vladimir, which have an unknown combination of stamps, are of particular scientific interest.