Metal detectorist finds record-breaking trove of ancient Roman coins
Summary
An amateur with a metal detector found 934 Roman silver coins in western Germany, the largest such treasure from Emperor Hadrian’s time ever found in the country. The coins, mostly from the second century A.D., are now displayed at a museum in Bonn.Key Facts
- The coins, called denarii, weigh about 3.1 kilograms (6.8 pounds).
- Most coins are from the Flavian emperors’ period (A.D. 69–96), with the oldest dating back to 148 B.C.
- The treasure was likely buried deliberately during the second quarter of the second century A.D. to keep the money safe.
- Roman banks did not exist, so people hid their money for protection.
- The treasure was found near Wesseling, south of Cologne, Germany.
- The area was under Roman control from 39 B.C. to about A.D. 459.
- A Roman legionary earned 300 denarii a year, and the hoard equals about six years’ disposable income for a soldier.
- Similar Roman treasures have recently been found in Wales, England, Poland, and Mediterranean regions.
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