Overview of the Really hoard consisting of an ensemble of coins, a ring, a silver ignot and fragments of silver tableware. Image: Limburgs Museum
Posted on 05/01/2014 9:44:13 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Dutch archaeologists have recently completed the rescue excavation of a unique treasure hoard dating to the beginning of the 5th century AD, from a field in Limburg...
According to the Byzantine historian Zosimus, Constantine III tried to re-secure the entire Roman Rhine frontier against Germanic invaders... The historians Orosius and Zosimus tells us that Constantine III solved the problem of the invading Germanic groups by liberal use of the money bag along with developing close alliances to Germanic warlords on both sides of the Rhine...
The Echt hoard would therefore have belonged to a Germanic officer in Roman service – part of a network of these warlords in the pay of Constantine III...
Hacksilver reflects the economic and military crisis of the late Roman Empire. The early 5th century would have been a major drain of gold and silver from the Roman Centre to the barbaric periphery as part of desperate efforts to defend the border and help to recruit troops... The tableware may have been given complete to the Germanic leaders and they cut it up in order to be able to distribute the pieces to their soldiers.
The Echt hoard is a find with a special story and it represents a unique document for the final period of Roman rule in the Netherlands. The fact that the complete hoard could be salvaged through a full excavation means that the context was not lost. The concentration of gold hoards from this period seems especially connected to the frantic attempts of Emperor Constantine III to maintain a grip on the border defence in the lower Rhine region. However, in hindsight, the end of the Roman Empire was, by this time, a forgone conclusion.
(Excerpt) Read more at pasthorizonspr.com ...
Overview of the Really hoard consisting of an ensemble of coins, a ring, a silver ignot and fragments of silver tableware. Image: Limburgs Museum
A leader of an empire, constrained by domestic politics, throws money at the barbarians to stave off collapse on his watch.
Hmmm. Why does that sound familiar?
Bye today’s standards this would be old cell phones and hamburger wrappers. ;-)
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;’)
All the money from this will go to the government!
In 518 AD, when the emperor Anastasius died, wikipedia says the imperial treasury had 160 tons of the stuff.
To compare, China supposedly just built the world's largest gold vault, 2200 ton capacity, according to current-day gold ads on AM talk radio.
Millions for defense but a head for tribute!
Bad idea I guess
Millions for defense but a hoard for tribute!
Bad idea I guess
I hate you auto-correct
Finding these old hoards of valuables, jewelry and coins just goes to prove one thing: Trying to be a thrifty saver is just wrong.
Instead we should spend all our money in our lifetime. I highly recommend travel to exotic places, wine, women, song, and a few discrete tokes (without inhaling).
Whatever’s left you should just waste.
Was it left over from Alexander?
It appears from the coin Constantine III could have used a lapband surgery.
Interesting. Thanks.
What does TROBS on the coin mean?
The “Really hoard”?!!!...Echt?
I've meant to look into a timeline of how much gold has been mined since the beginning of history, who had it, how much came from the New World, etc.
My 1965 Britannica has some of it, I think, but I can never remember it unless I write it down.
Thought that was Hitlery from the quick glance....
He had a brother, Christios I, Governor of Néos Fanéla
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