It consisted of approximately 2,800 coins held within a pottery container.

[1] The hoard was found by on 1 March 1966 at Heslington, York during excavations in advance of the construction of 'College 3' on the campus of the University of York.

[2][3] More than half of the hoard is composed of contemporary copies of coins, and 1,158 may be regarded as true issues.

Various Emperors from the Constantinian dynasty are depicted on the coinage.

The two latest dated coins are of the Emperor Julian and the hoard is considered to have been sealed and deposited shortly after AD 355.