Amateur archaeologist finds Germany’s biggest hoard of ancient Roman silver coins
Experts say the 934 denarii were likely buried deliberately in Hadrian’s reign, and the hoard is now on display in Bonn.
- On Tuesday, the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn displayed 934 Roman silver denarii discovered near Wesseling, south of Cologne—the largest Hadrian-era treasure ever found in Germany. Amateur archaeologist Oliver Riedl unearthed the hoard after his metal detector signaled repeatedly.
- The coins date primarily from the Flavian era , though the oldest was minted in 148 B.C. The Cologne region was under Roman control from 39 B.C. to A.D. 459, when General Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa established a military outpost.
- Weighing 3.1 kilograms , the hoard represents extraordinary wealth for its era. Research associate Rahel Otte noted a legionary would need to save all disposable income for six years to amass such a fortune.
- Experts believe the hoard was intentionally buried in the 2nd century A.D. State archaeologist Erich Classen suggested, "Of course, we can only speculate about the motives, but it's very likely that someone wanted to keep this money safe."
- While recent years have seen Roman-era discoveries across Europe, including finds in England and Poland, this Wesseling hoard remains unique in its scope. Treasure troves from ancient times are not uncommon, yet few match this discovery's extent.
155 Articles
155 Articles
Mysterious find beneath field leads man to massive treasure hidden for centuries - NEW YORK TIMES POST
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A man searching a German field with a metal detector stumbled upon a remarkable discovery. He found 934 ancient Roman silver coins — and an expert says the nearly 2,000-year-old treasure and “huge hoard” may have been someone’s life savings. The coins, found near Wesseling, south of [...]
Archaeology stands out for bringing to light stories that have been buried for centuries, and sometimes a walk with a metal detector is enough to achieve it. Oliver Riedl, an authorized amateur detectorist, found an agricultural field near Wesseling, south of Cologne, where his apparatus kept on pounding after digging up the first 15 coins. Riedl stopped the excavation on his own and immediately warned the authorities, a gesture that allowed the…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
