Posted on 09/28/2016 11:56:53 AM PDT by BenLurkin
The coins were excavated from the ruins of Katsuren Castle in Okinawa Prefecture, according to the Japan Times, noting that this is the country’s first discovery of its kind. Citing the Board of Education in the city of Uruma, the Japan Times reports that the four copper coins are believed to be from the third to fourth centuries.
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X-ray analysis of the coins has apparently revealed the image of Emperor Constantine I and a soldier carrying a spear. Each coin measures 0.6 inches to 0.8 inches in diameter, according to the report.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
No mention of the Japanese government finding this stuff elsewhere and planting it like it belonged their yet?
To me it is like finding more Dead Sea scrolls under the Belagio Las Vegas.
Their = there yet
“No mention of the Japanese government finding this stuff elsewhere and planting it like it belonged their yet?
To me it is like finding more Dead Sea scrolls under the Belagio Las Vegas.”
It’s not that crazy. There was an amazing amount of commerce in the ancient world. The coins could have easily gotten there along trade routes. They may have been a curiosity held by Japanese who had never heard of the Roman empire.
Sailors sail. Anywhere they can go.
Archaeologists never seem to understand this. Possibly none of them own a boat.
I look at this way. Those coins had 1,000 years to find their way to Okinawa. Plenty of time.
How do they explain the Yoshiama beef bowl burried with it?
Most likely a tourist just from Italy accidentally on purpose dropped those coins there.
The China connection is the most likely source but the Portuguese were in Japan in the early 15th century. Neither were too scrupulous and either might have dumped a load of worthless old coins off on unsuspecting Okinawan merchants.
Interesting. It has to be noted that the coins were 3rd Century and the Castle is 12th + century. Plenty of opportunity to get to Japan over the ancient trade routes and via China.
Or maybe the Japanese were just holding them until they got a better exchange rate on the Forex.
Yoshinoya
The Silk Road had an extension across the Japan Sea. These coins could easily have been carried to Sakai during the Kofun era (300-550 AD), and from there somehow found their way to Okinawa some time in the succeeding 1000 years or so.
More likely Coco Curry :-)
Archaeologists never seem to understand this. Possibly none of them own a boat.
And never were in the Navy............
“Or maybe the Japanese were just holding them until they got a better exchange rate on the Forex.”
Very, very funny. Brightened my afternoon.
Romans had great ships—almost as good as Columbus had. They could and may well have reached China Why?
1. Japanese Junks have eyes on the bow like Roman Ships had.
2. Pompeii had orange trees—Oranges existed in Canton only.
3. Romans Loved Chinese silk—lots of trade.
4. Romans built a canal from the Nile to the Red Sea. Why? Trade to India and beyond.
I am reading a book on the Roman Indian Ocean & West Africa trade. It’ s a hot new area in Roman history & archeological research.
High labor costs and excessive regulation drove Roman coin production off-shore.
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