A team of archaeologists from Luxembourg has uncovered a remarkable cache of ancient Roman gold coins, dating back 1,600 years. The coins, which feature the faces of nine different Roman emperors who ruled during the 4th and 5th centuries, were discovered in the northern village of Holzthum, as reported by Smithsonian Magazine.
Among the most intriguing figures depicted on the coins is Eugenius, an illegitimate ruler who briefly led the Western Roman Empire after the mysterious death of Emperor Valentinian II.
The discovery occurred at a site that initially attracted attention in 2019, when an amateur metal detectorist found coins in the area. Excavation work, however, began only in 2020 and continued until 2024. According to Marc Hoscheid of RTL Lëtzebuerg, the site posed significant challenges due to the presence of munitions and explosives from World War II. To ensure safe excavation, Luxembourg’s Army Mine Action Service assisted the archaeologists. In addition to the coins, remnants of old structures were found, likely the remains of a burgus, a small Roman fortress or watchtower.
The excavation has revealed a total of 141 Roman gold coins, valued at approximately $322,000. Most of the coins are solidi, a type of gold coin minted at the beginning of the 4th century CE. Historian Rebecca Usherwood of Trinity College Dublin highlighted the significance of the discovery, noting that such a large number of gold coins suggests the owner was of high social standing, possibly a military officer, rather than a common soldier. “Most people in the Roman Empire would rarely have seen a single gold coin,” Usherwood explained to Daily Express.
The coins date from a period of profound change in the Roman Empire, marked by the transition to Christianity under Emperor Constantine I and the growing influence of Germanic tribes in present-day Germany, Luxembourg, and France. Usherwood noted that the area where the cache was found was prosperous in the early 4th century, but by the 5th century, it had become increasingly vulnerable to invasions, particularly across the Rhine River.
It is possible, Usherwood suggested, that the coins were buried by their owner during a time of conflict, perhaps unable to flee with the treasure. “They might have been involved in a skirmish or cut off from the site,” she speculated. “It’s likely they died before they could recover their treasure.”
Following the discovery, experts have begun analyzing the coins, with findings expected to be published in a scientific journal. Luxembourg’s culture minister, Eric Thill, emphasized the significance of the excavation, stating that the ongoing research will provide deeper insights into the final century of the Western Roman Empire. “It will still take some time to process the excavations and finds,” Thill said in a statement to Live Science. “But it will undoubtedly increase our knowledge and understanding of this period.”
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