Archaeologists in Germany have uncovered an extraordinary hoard of 934 Roman silver coins near Wesseling, making it the largest coin hoard dating to the reign of Emperor Hadrian ever discovered in the country and the fifth largest of its kind worldwide.
The remarkable discovery was made by amateur metal detectorist Oliver Riedl during an authorised search of a field near Wesseling, in North Rhine-Westphalia. After uncovering 15 Roman silver coins and continuing to receive signals from his detector, Riedl realised that he had stumbled upon something significant.
“It was clear to me that there was something bigger buried here,” Riedl said. “So I immediately notified the authorities.”
Archaeologists from the Rhineland Regional Association’s Office for Archaeological Heritage Management (LVR-ABR) subsequently excavated the site, recovering 934 Roman silver denarii weighing a combined 3.1 kilograms.
The coins represent a substantial fortune that was probably buried during the second quarter of the 2nd century AD, although the identity of its owner and the circumstances surrounding its burial remain a mystery.
A Roman fortune hidden for nearly 1,900 years
Analysis of the coins revealed that the most recent was minted in AD 124 or 125, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, who ruled the Roman Empire from AD 117 to 138.
“This makes it the largest coin hoard from this period in Germany, and the fifth largest worldwide,” said Dr Erich Claßen, State Archaeologist and Director of the LVR-ABR.
Although the hoard was probably buried during Hadrian’s reign, most of its coins date to the earlier Flavian dynasty, which ruled between AD 69 and 96.
The oldest coin is particularly remarkable. Minted in 148 BC during the Roman Republic, it had already been in circulation for more than 270 years by the time the hoard was concealed.
Researchers believe the fortune may have been accumulated around AD 100 before being buried several decades later.
The reason for its concealment remains uncertain, although archaeologists suspect that its owner intended to retrieve it.
“We can only speculate about the motives, of course, but it’s very likely someone wanted to keep this money safe,” Claßen explained.
Why the money was never recovered is another mystery. One possibility is that its owner died before revealing the location of the buried coins.
How much was the Roman coin hoard worth?
The Wesseling hoard represents a considerable amount of money by the standards of the Roman Empire, although calculating its precise purchasing power is difficult.
According to Dr Rahel Otte, a research associate at the LVR-ABR who has examined the coins, the wages of Roman legionaries provide a useful comparison.
A typical legionary earned approximately 300 denarii annually, but around half of this amount was deducted for food and equipment.
“A legionary would therefore have had to save all his available money for about six years to accumulate the Wesseling hoard,” Otte explained.
The discovery raises questions about the wealth and economic activity of Roman communities in the Rhineland.
Archaeologists have yet to establish who owned the coins, but one possibility is that the fortune belonged to someone living on a Roman estate in the surrounding countryside.
Archaeologists uncover traces of the original container
The careful recovery of the hoard has provided valuable information about how the coins were originally buried.
During the excavation, archaeologists identified a dense concentration of silver coins and decided to remove the surrounding soil as a single block rather than excavating each coin individually.
The block was transported to the restoration workshop of the LVR State Museum in Bonn, where specialists used X-ray imaging to examine its contents before beginning the delicate process of separating and conserving the coins.
The investigation revealed fragments of a ceramic vessel alongside remnants of straw.
“The coins were probably originally buried in a pot lined with straw,” Otte said.
The container appears to have been damaged by centuries of agricultural activity, which also scattered some of the coins through the surrounding soil.
Despite this disturbance, archaeologists were able to recover the entire hoard during their investigations.
The discovery of the ceramic fragments and organic material provides important archaeological context, helping researchers reconstruct how the money was stored and concealed.
Metal detectorist praised for reporting discovery
Archaeologists have highlighted the actions of Oliver Riedl as an important factor in the successful recovery of the hoard.
Rather than continuing to excavate the coins himself, Riedl stopped searching and immediately contacted the relevant heritage authorities.
“Mr Riedl behaved in a truly exemplary manner,” Claßen said. “Thanks to his foresight, we were able to recover the hoard professionally and completely.”
In North Rhine-Westphalia, metal detecting requires authorisation from the heritage authorities and permission from the landowner. Detectorists must also undertake appropriate training through specialist organisations.
The Wesseling discovery demonstrates how responsible metal detecting can contribute to archaeological research while preserving the scientific information associated with important finds.
Simon Matzerath, chairman of the West and South German Association for Archaeological Research, welcomed the discovery as an example of successful cooperation between amateur detectorists and professional archaeologists.
“The private use of metal detectors can be an incredible support for science, provided everyone adheres to the rules,” he said.
Matzerath also warned that illegal excavations remain a persistent problem for archaeological heritage management.
Roman silver treasure goes on display in Bonn
The Wesseling coin hoard is being exhibited for the first time at the LVR State Museum in Bonn, giving visitors an opportunity to see one of Germany’s most significant discoveries of Roman silver currency.
The find is also being presented to the archaeological community at the annual conference of the West and South German Association for Archaeological Research, which has brought together around 300 archaeologists from across Germany.
Under North Rhine-Westphalia’s monument protection legislation, the hoard is now the property of the state.
However, because Riedl conducted his search legally and reported the discovery in accordance with the regulations, he will receive a reward from the state’s responsible ministry.
For archaeologists, the discovery offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate Roman monetary circulation, wealth and the practice of concealing valuables in the empire’s northern provinces.
Nearly 1,900 years after the coins were buried, the Wesseling hoard has finally resurfaced, offering a rare glimpse into the fortunes and uncertainties of life in Roman Germany.
Header Image Credit : Marcel Zanjani/LVR Office for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Rhineland
Sources : LVR
