Metal Detectorist Discovers 2,000-Year-Old Roman Coin Hoard in Germany

In 2025, a metal detectorist named Oliver Riedl discovered a hoard of 934 Roman silver coins in a field near Wesseling, Germany. Riedl, who is a licensed metal detectorist, found the coins while using his device and alerted authorities after suspecting more coins were buried beneath the surface. The discovery was announced recently, with officials stating that the hoard weighs over six pounds. The oldest coin in the collection was minted in 148 B.C.E., while most coins date from 69 to 96 C.E., with the most recent minted during the reign of Emperor Hadrian around 124 or 125 C.E. Erich Classen, director of the LVR-State Service for Archaeological Heritage, noted that this is the largest coin hoard from this period in Germany and the fifth-largest worldwide. Johannes Wienand, a professor of ancient history at the Technical University of Braunschweig, described the hoard as a 'time capsule' of the currency used during that era. The coins were found near the Rhine frontier, close to the Roman city of Cologne and a legionary fortress in Bonn, suggesting a potential military connection. The historical treasure is currently on display at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn.