Roman gold coins discovered in Italian theatre

The Local IT ^ | 9 September 2018 | staff

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Hundreds of ancient Roman gold coins have been discovered on the site of an old theatre in Como in northern Italy, the Ministry of Culture said.

The coins date back to the end of the Roman Empire in the 5th century and were found in a kind of stone urn in the Cressoni theatre basement, not far from the site of the ancient city of Novum Comum. 

 

According to Italian media, the coins could be worth millions of euros.

 

"We do not yet know in detail the historical and cultural significance of this discovery but this area is a real treasure for our archeology," said Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli on Facebook. 

 

The theatre, which was inaugurated in 1870 and later became a cinema before closing in 1997, was due to be demolished to allow the construction of a luxury residence.

 

Authorities now plan to suspend work at the site to allow further excavations, according to local media.

 

Centinaia di monete d'oro della tarda epoca imperiale sono state rinvenute in pieno centro a #Como, in un recipiente in pietra ollare di forma inedita. “Una scoperta che mi riempie di orgoglio” ha detto il ministro @BonisoliAlberto pic.twitter.com/ff6ep38gtG — MiBAC (@_MiBAC) September 7, 2018

[SunkenCiv]

Oh, duh, I just now read the excerpt -- this is a find of 5th century gold Roman coins, the theater was only built in 1870. During the demolition this was found under the old structure (that's probably why the side of the container is broken open).

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks aMorePerfectUnion.

[SunkenCiv]

5th century gold Roman coins, probably going to be okay. The current price of gold may indeed be higher, but that's also due to supply and demand, and not intrinsic value. Gold and silver are just commodities.

[Antoninus]

Sadly, many of the “silver” coins from the 3rd century AD were made of debased silver—some had a silver content of less than 10%. This is how the Romans expanded the money supply during the Crisis of the Third Century — but it didn’t really fool anyone and they ended up with run-away inflation until later monetary reforms.

[pepsi_junkie]

Most of my coins are from the turn of the millenium or prior. So hopefully they are proper silver. I accept that their value is historical and sentimental because of the link to my grandfather. I don’t intend to ever sell, not that it would get me much. I will say that I do have one coin I think is worth maybe $1500 though. A very nicely preserved shekel of tyre, thought to be of the type paid to Judas for betraying Christ since they were the only type of silver coin the temple took in (or so they say). The rest, like I said, not worth much. But it’s certainly cool to hold something man made that is thousands of years old. I have a silver drachma from Alexander the great that’s in terrible condition, it looks like someone’s dental filling fell out. But it was minted by Alexander the frickin’ Great! Priceless!

[Antoninus]

Oh, definitely hold on to them. Generally, coins that can be associated with a more popular emperor/king are more valuable, so if you have some that feature or Augustus, Antony, Tiberius, Claudius or Nero (or Alexander!), they are normally worth more than coins featuring Alexander Severus or Carus or Jovian. Depending on the condition, of course.

[a fool in paradise]

There was another earlier thread I think on these coins but I didnt get an opportunity to read it

[SunkenCiv]

ah, thanks, missed it going through:

In mint condition! Millions of pounds-worth of pristine 5th-century gold coins are found buried [tr]
UK Daily Mail | September 9, 2018 | Charlie Moore
Posted on 09/10/2018 6:19:18 AM PDT by C19fan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3686356/posts