Construction of a hospital parking lot on Feldstrasse, located close to the historic Roman bridge, was in full swing during September 1993 in Trier, Germany.
The city, known as Augusta Treverorum, was established by the Romans around 16 BC. Over the centuries, it has managed to retain numerous structures and relics from that era, including the iconic Porta Nigra. It is, therefore, quite unsurprising that during the parking construction, remnants of walls and vaults from a Roman insula were unearthed.
Nevertheless, despite the lack of disruption, the excavations proceeded without pause. It was on September 9th when a group of coin enthusiasts, carefully examining the soil displaced by one of the machines, unearthed a remarkable discovery: a handful of magnificent, gleaming gold coins. Intrigued by this initial find, they returned under the cloak of darkness, equipped with a trusty metal detector. Within a short span of time, their efforts had yielded an astounding trove of 1,389 ancient Roman aurei – the very gold coins that had circulated until the year 309 AD, when they were eventually replaced by the solidus currency. Consequently, a portion of the coins bore the signs of corrosion and were encased in a layer of sticky clay.
However, prior to daybreak, in a basement chamber, they stumbled upon a bronze container holding an additional 561 golden coins. It was in this vessel that all of the coins unearthed had originally been stored, but unfortunately, it had been inadvertently damaged by one of the excavators earlier that afternoon.
Let’s rewind to the sunny afternoon of September 9th. The excavated earth from the Feldstrasse site had a new destination – the Kockelsberg hotel’s car park, situated approximately 5 kilometers away on a majestic hill. Interestingly, a group of enthusiastic collectors decided to tail the truck carrying the earth. Upon reaching the hotel, they couldn’t resist spreading a tantalizing rumor – could there possibly be a hidden treasure amidst the mound of rubble?
As a result, a wave of excitement rippled through the group of truck drivers and hotel guests, prompting them to eagerly delve into the soil. By the conclusion of the afternoon, their efforts had yielded yet another 400 shiny gold coins, along with an enticing glimpse of the surface of the bronze container.
Throughout the entire day and night, various other coins had emerged. However, on the dawn of September 10, a group of individuals, comprising both passionate collectors and ordinary folks, decided to entrust their newfound treasures to the esteemed Rheinisches Landesmuseum, located in Trier. This remarkable event heralded the unearthing of an exceptional jewel, as it marked the discovery of the largest cache ever encountered: a staggering collection of 2,650 aurei hailing from the Roman imperial era.
A stunning collection of coins from the Trier Treasury, captured in a delightful snapshot by Th. Zühmer and showcased in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum, boasts a remarkable weight of approximately 18.5 kilograms. Remarkably, over 99 percent of these splendid coins were crafted and minted during the years 63 to 168 AD. These gorgeous numismatic gems represent a significant fraction of all the aureus coins unearthed thus far from that illustrious era. It is truly a momentous discovery for coin enthusiasts and historians alike.
The owner of this considerable sum of money, which amounts to 265,000 sesterces, remains a mystery. It could have belonged to an individual, or perhaps it was under the control of the city’s imperial administration. To put it into perspective, the annual income of the Roman procurator of Trier, who managed the finances, was approximately 200,000 sesterces. Another speculation suggests that it might have been a portion of the funds deposited at the nearby temple of Asclepius.
The treasure in question can be traced back to the era when the newest coins were crafted, specifically during the stretch from 193 to 196 AD. It is quite plausible that this wealth has a connection to the intense conflict between the emperor Septimius Severus and his adversary Clodius Albinus. During that time, Albinus launched an attack on Trier but failed to seize it. It is possible that the individual responsible for safeguarding the treasure decided to conceal it during this tumultuous period. Unfortunately, circumstances may have prevented them from ever retrieving it, such as their untimely demise or forced escape.
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