Germany's Largest-Ever Trove of Roman Coins Unearthed
A massive trove of Roman silver coins dating back to the 2nd century AD have been discovered by an amateur archaeologist in Germany.
A remarkable collection of Roman silver coins, dating back to the 2nd century AD, has been unearthed in Germany, marking the largest such discovery of its kind in the region's history. Amateur archaeologist Oliver Riedl stumbled upon the treasure trove in Wesseling, located south of Cologne, approximately a year ago. Upon making the discovery, Riedl alerted authorities and initiated excavations, which ultimately yielded 934 denarii coins, collectively known as Roman silver coins.
The coins were exhibited on Tuesday at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, situated in the region that once served as the capital of West Germany. According to local authorities responsible for archaeological heritage preservation, this particular coin hoard represents the largest Roman Emperor Hadrian-era find ever discovered in Germany.
Regional archaeologists believe that the coins were most likely buried during the second quarter of the 2nd century AD. While exact reasons remain unknown, Erich Classen, the chief archaeologist of North Rhine-Westphalia, suspects that the individuals who buried the coins were attempting to safeguard their wealth, given the absence of banks during that era. Classen added that there is no clear explanation as to why the coins went unnoticed earlier or who was responsible for their concealment.
Several coin hoards from the Roman period and other distant historical eras have been unearthed in the region. However, the Wesseling discovery stands out as exceptionally extensive. The total value of the coins is challenging to estimate, but researchers have utilized preserved documentation from written sources to establish a helpful reference point.
During the period when the coins were created, an ordinary Roman legionary earned about 300 denarii annually, with roughly half of that amount deducted for food and equipment. Consequently, a legionary would have needed to save all of his discretionary income for approximately six years to accumulate a treasure similar to the Wesseling hoard.
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