More Than 900 Roman Silver Coins Form Germany's Largest Hadrian-Era Hoard
Learn how an amateur archaeologist discovered the fifth-largest collection of Hadrian-era coins in the world.
An amateur archaeologist in Germany discovered a massive collection of Roman coins during a routine survey, marking the largest such find from the Hadrian era. Oliver Riedl noticed silver coins while metal detecting near Wesseling and alerted officials, triggering extensive excavations. Over 900 denarii were found, more than three times a soldier's annual salary.
The hoard, comprising 6.8 pounds (3.1 kilograms) of silver, is now on display at the LVR-Landesmuseum Bonn. Researchers believe the coins, dating from 148 B.C.E. to 125 C.E., were buried during the Hadrian era, though the reason remains unclear. The site, near a Roman frontier, was likely used to protect the empire from Germanic tribes.
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