Reports have indicated that the collection is one of the most extensive ever found in Switzerland. The coins, hidden around 1,700 years ago, have a combined weight of 33 pounds (15 kg). Keep scrolling to view the video.
A Swiss fruit and vegetable farmer stumbled upon a hidden stash of over 4,000 ancient Roman coins, both bronze and silver, that date back 1,700 years. This incredible discovery took place in the farmer’s cherry orchard in Ueken, where he noticed some glimmering green coins in a molehill last July.
The farmer had a hunch that his land might be holding something special after the remains of an early Roman settlement were found in a nearby town called Frick a few months prior. He decided to reach out to the regional archaeological service, and his suspicions were soon confirmed.
Following months of discreet excavations, the archaeological service revealed yesterday that a total of 4,166 coins had been unearthed in remarkable condition. This astonishing find adds another layer of history to the rich tapestry of the Roman era, shedding new light on the past.
The discovery of the hoard in Switzerland is being hailed as one of the largest of its kind ever found in the country. Found buried in a field, the coins were initially hidden in the soil, but some of them were visible and gleaming in the sunlight. In July, a farmer stumbled upon this remarkable find when he noticed some shiny green coins on his property in Ueken, marked on the map in red, near Frick where a Roman settlement was previously uncovered.
The markings on the coins are still readable, allowing experts to determine that they date back to the era of Emperor Aurelian, ruling from 170 to 275 AD, and Emperor Maximillian, from 286 to 305 AD.
The imprints on the coins are still clear, confirming that they are from the time of Emperor Aurelian. The most recent coins discovered were minted in 294. Archaeologist Georg Matter explained that the coins were found in an orchard that had never been developed, always used for farming. The great condition of the coins suggests that they were carefully hidden away not long after they were made. It seems that the owner buried them around the year 294 and never retrieved them. Some of the coins, primarily made of bronze with an uncommonly high silver content of five percent, were buried in small leather bags.
According to the experts, it was deemed impossible to ascertain the original value of the coins due to the high inflation during that time. However, they estimated that the money must have been equivalent to at least one or two years’ worth of wages. Matter declined to guess at the present value of the coins and mentioned that the farmer would not be permitted to keep the treasure. He mentioned that the farmer might receive a finder’s fee, but as per Swiss law, the discovered items belong to the public. The collection of coins will be exhibited at the Vindonissa de Brugg Museum in Aargau.
The pristine quality of the coins in the picture suggests that the owner carefully saved them soon after they were minted. Strange as it may seem, the owner buried them around the year 294 and never returned to unearth them.
According to the specialists, it was challenging to pinpoint the exact value of the coins because of the high inflation during that period. However, it was evident that the currency must have been worth a significant amount, possibly equivalent to a year or two of one’s salary. The process of cleaning the coins was also demonstrated.
