'There was something bigger in the ground here': Metal detectorist in Germany discovers giant Roman-era hoard from time of emperor Hadrian

A remarkable Roman-era hoard has been discovered in Germany, consisting of over 900 silver denarii coins from the reign of Emperor Hadrian. The hoard, weighing almost 7 pounds (3.1 kilograms), was unearthed approximately a year ago in a field near the city of Wesseling, south of Cologne. The coins, spanning nearly three centuries, were buried around the time of Hadrian's emperorship (A.D. 117-138) and include some dating back to the Roman Republic (148 B.C.) and the Flavian emperors (A.D. 69-96).

Metal detectorist Oliver Riedl discovered the hoard and immediately informed the regional archaeological authorities when his detector signaled something larger underground. The hoard is now on display at the Rhineland Regional Museum in Bonn. Archaeologists believe the coins were collected by the original owner for most of the 100s but were buried during Hadrian's reign, when the owner likely feared for their safety.

Experts suggest that the hoard may have been buried shortly after the most recent coin was minted, indicating that the owner intended to keep the treasure safe. The historical value of such a hoard was considerable during the second century A.D., with 300 denarii representing a year's salary for a Roman legionary.