Discovery of Ancient Roman Coin Hoard in Germany

<p>A man searching a field in Germany with a metal detector discovered 934 ancient Roman silver coins. The coins, found near Wesseling, south of Cologne, were uncovered by Oliver Riedl, according to The Associated Press (AP). Although the hoard was discovered last year, officials announced the find recently, describing it as the largest coin hoard from the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian ever found in Germany.</p><p>Riedl, a licensed metal detectorist, alerted archaeological authorities after realizing there were more coins buried beneath the surface. He suspected there were additional coins after his metal detector continued to pick up signals. "It was clear to me there was something bigger buried here," he stated.</p><p>Pictures show the ancient Roman silver denarii after they were carefully cleaned, with some coins bearing portraits and inscriptions. The coins were likely buried intentionally between 125 and 150 A.D., according to the LVR Office for the Preservation of Archaeological Monuments in the Rhineland. The hoard weighs 6.8 pounds and is currently on display at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn.</p><p>Johannes Wienand, a professor of ancient history at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany, noted the unusual size of the hoard, calling it "a huge treasure." Wienand, who was not involved in the discovery or its research, remarked, "It's certainly the largest Roman coin hoard of that sort from Hadrian's time," adding that it serves as a time capsule of the money used during that period.</p><p>A Roman legionary would have earned a gross salary of around 300 denarii per year, suggesting the hoard was roughly equivalent to three years of a soldier's gross salary. Wienand explained that a Roman soldier would need several years to save this amount of money, possibly for retirement.</p><p>The coins were discovered in a rural area near the Rhine frontier, which marked a border of the Roman Empire at the time. The Roman city of Cologne and a legionary fortress in Bonn were also nearby, raising the possibility of a military connection. However, the identity of the hoard's owner remains unknown. Wienand suggested that it seems to have been the life savings of one person who buried it for safekeeping.</p><p>Wienand emphasized the importance of responsible metal detecting and reporting archaeological finds, stating, "It's actually a story of how to do things right." He praised Riedl for being licensed and for immediately reporting the find to heritage officers, contributing to an orderly exploration of this significant discovery. "These coins and this hoard are now part of our cultural heritage, and I think that's a very good outcome of this story," he concluded.</p><p><i>The Associated Press contributed reporting.</i></p>