Amateur Archaeologist Stumbles Onto Trove of Coins Dated to Constantine the Great’s Reign

Smithsonian ^ | May 5, 2022 | Elizabeth Djinis

[SunkenCiv]

Daniel Lüdin... swept his metal detector across the ground, a “strong signal” suddenly emitted from the machine... he was shocked by what he found: a clay pot filled with 1,290 coins.

In accordance with proper archaeological protocol, Lüdin reburied the pot and contacted local experts, who dated the cache of coins to the fourth century... At the time, Switzerland was part of the Roman Empire.

Based on the coins’ composition—copper alloy and traces of silver... was simply a large stack of “small change,” equal to about two months of earnings for a soldier, per the statement. Collectively, the coins amounted to as much as a single gold solidus, “a pure gold coin introduced by Emperor Constantine during the late Roman Empire that weighed about 0.15 ounces,” writes Live Science’s Laura Geggel...

“In troubled times, triggered by civil wars, incursions by neighboring ethnic groups or economic crises, many people buried their valuables in the ground to protect them from unauthorized access,” notes the statement, per Google Translate. “During the time when the pot from Bubendorf was hidden, there are hardly any comparable hoards in the entire Roman Empire. These years are characterized more by their political stability and some economic recovery.”

...The newly discovered coins were found on the border of three Roman estates, indicating they may have been buried as a border sanctuary or a sacrifice to the gods, according to the statement.

While surveying the coins with a CT scan, the archaeologists spotted a piece of cowhide dividing the cache in two, indicating the money may have belonged to two different people or groups. For those who want to take a closer look at the find, researchers have created a 3-D model of the coins in situ.

[fortes fortuna juvat]

Coins of the Constantinian era are rather common today. I probably own a hundred or more of them. Still, in the condition shown, they are probably worth $20-$50 each.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Have any in decent condition you’d be willing to sell?

[12chachacha]

Constantine the Luke Warm

[OldWarBaby]

You might be confusing him with Bidum the Halfaxxed? His coin is a flattened gumball.

[Political Junkie Too]

Constantine the Michael buried his stash under room 222.

-PJ

[Red Badger]

Or Constantine the Meh!.................

[Political Junkie Too]

Sorry...

Constantine the Michael buried his stash under room II-II-II.

-PJ

I hate it when I botch a good joke.

[nesnah]

What izz dee Grrrreeek word forr stash?

[Starstruck]

Sweep, Shovel, Shut up comes to mind.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

I sell locally at an antique mall, but don’t do mail order. If you are interested, check out eBay. But, beware, there are a good many fakes sold as the real item on eBay. For a more reliable source, try VCoins, which is a resource for a number of legit sellers. Here is a link to Constantinian era coins:

https://www.vcoins.com/en/Search.aspx?search=true&searchQuery=Constantine+the+Great&searchQueryExclude=&searchCategory=315&searchCategoryLevel=4&searchCategoryAncient=True&searchCategoryUs=True&searchCategoryWorld=True&searchCategoryMints=True&searchBetween=0&searchBetweenAnd=0&searchDate=&searchUseThesaurus=True&searchDisplayCurrency=&searchDisplay=1&searchIdStore=0&searchQueryAnyWords=&searchExactPhrase=&searchTitleAndDescription=True&searchDateType=0&searchMaxRecords=100&SearchOnSale=False&Unassigned=False&searchOrderBy=price_asc

[laplata]

I understand. Thanks for the helpful info and advice.

[Red Badger]

That would be CCXXII..................

[null and void]

And you couldn't find Swiss chocolate, Swiss watches, or Swiss army knives anywhere in Switzerland.

You can't find Swiss cheese in Switzerland to this very day.

[Bob434]

[[Was there a Constantine the Mediocre?..............]]

He was done in by Constantine the little bit better

[moovova]

“....a clay pot filled with 1,290 coins.”

Holy cow.

[Adder]

His Dad...he was a so-so Caesar...

[Repeal The 17th]

“...A.D. not C.E...”
-
I simply read “C.E.” as Christian Era and
“B.C.E.” as Before Christian Era.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Where were Constantine the Loser and Constantine the Inferior on the family tree?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I have their relative Constantinitus in my head all the time.

[muir_redwoods]

I worked in a pawnshop for a brief period. A very large fellow with an obvious mental defect wandered in and offered me a “1000 Caret opal” that he had at home. When I didn’t show much interest he offered to bring in his uncirculated, 2000 year-old Roman Coin. It was a fun job.

[fhayek]

You can't find Swiss cheese in Switzerland to this very day.

No Swiss cheese? Sounds like someone is orchestrating an elaborate disinformation campaign. Better get Jankowicz on it...