Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Amateur Archaeologist Stumbles Onto Trove of Coins Dated to Constantine the Great’s Reign
Smithsonian ^ | May 5, 2022 | Elizabeth Djinis

Posted on 05/06/2022 10:36:56 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at smithsonianmag.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: coins; constantine; epigraphyandlanguage; fauxiantroll; fauxiantrolls; godsgravesglyphs; romanempire; romansilver; romanswitzerland; silver; switzerland
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 last
To: fhayek

No Swiss cheese.

Although you can get Emmenthaler cheese...


41 posted on 05/06/2022 12:59:01 PM PDT by null and void (Russia no longer looks like the #2 military power in the world. Maybe #2 military power in Ukraine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Engraved-on-His-hands

Here is a link to Constantinian era coins:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks for taking a moment to share this information.


42 posted on 05/06/2022 1:01:34 PM PDT by fortes fortuna juvat (It's perfectly obvious! Democrat politicians and voters are dangerously psychotic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Verginius Rufus; Larry Lucido

Yes, but they liked to shop in the duty-free shop.


43 posted on 05/07/2022 6:44:46 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom
They're not even on there, the family is ashamed of them. ;^)

44 posted on 05/07/2022 8:02:55 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

Or, a thief buried his haul, and then got caught stealing something else and was executed.


45 posted on 05/07/2022 8:39:53 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: ProtectOurFreedom

LOL


46 posted on 05/07/2022 8:40:46 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Engraved-on-His-hands

Thanks from me too, I love browsing these.


47 posted on 05/07/2022 8:41:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson