Bulgarian archaeologists find nearly 3000 coins in clay pot at Sofia dig

Sofia Globe ^ | September 4, 2015 | staff

[SunkenCiv]

Archaeologists excavating under the Sveta Nedelya square in the centre of Bulgaria’s capital city of Sofia found a treasure trove of Roman era coins, the city hall said on September 4.

A total of 2976 silver coins in a single clay pot make this the largest single find of its kind in Sofia, which stands on the same ground as the Roman administrative centre (municipium) of Serdica. The dig site itself is just 100 metres from the buildings that house Bulgaria’s Government and Presidency.

The coins appear to have been collected over a period of more than a century, with the earliest ones bearing the profile of emperor Vespasian, who reigned in 69-79 CE. The latest coins bear the visage of emperor Commodus – he of Gladiator infamy, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the film – who reigned in 177-192 CE.

The treasure appears to have been accumulated slowly and includes coins minted during the reigns of each emperor in the Nerva-Antonine dynasty – the period when Sofia rose to prominence, having been declared a municipium by Trajan (also known for the conquest of the Dacian tribes in what is now Romania). In addition to coins bearing the visage of various emperors, the treasure included coins with imagery of some of the notable women of that dynasty – Faustina the Elder and Faustina the Younger, Bruttia Crispina and Lucilla.

[Bigg Red]

Very good. Thanks.

[Fresh Wind]

Best to use Newspeak and blot him out of the record (and use BCE and CE).

I'm not familiar with those terms. Does "BCE" mean "before Clinton era"?

[csvset]

They cleaned up rather nicely.