Officials announced this week the discovery of hundreds of Roman-era gold and silver coins in a field near Bunnik, a village in the Netherlands. The coins, a mix of Roman and British origin, date back thousands of years and represent the first such find on the European mainland, according to the Netherlands' Cultural Heritage Agency.
The discovery was made by two metal detectorists who reported their findings to authorities. An archaeologist confirmed the authenticity of the coins, leading to a larger excavation.
Most of the artifacts are Roman coins dated between 46 and 47 A.D., coinciding with the end of the first Roman conquests in Britain. Many of these coins feature the portrait of Emperor Claudius. Among the collection are nearly 300 silver denarii minted between 200 B.C. and 47 A.D., including unique portraits of Julius Caesar and a coin depicting Juba, a king from present-day Algeria.
Additionally, 72 gold aurei dated from 18 B.C. to 47 A.D. were found, showing no signs of wear, suggesting they were freshly minted. Other coins, made from a gold, silver, and copper alloy, originate from what is now Great Britain and bear the image of Celtic king Cunobelinus, who reigned from 9 to 40 A.D.
According to the Cultural Heritage Agency, it is likely that Roman soldiers returning from Britain carried these coins to Bunnik. The British coins may represent spoils of war, while the Roman coins were likely used as currency. The burial of these coins could have been an attempt to hide them temporarily or an offering to the gods, possibly as gratitude for a safe return from battle.
This discovery underscores the significance of the Lower Germanic limes, a series of fortifications along the Roman Empire's border with Germanic tribes, which existed from 83 to about 260 A.D. The coins indicate that Roman troops returning from Britain utilized these routes to return home.
Of the 404 coins found, 381 were acquired by the National Museum of Antiquities, where they are now part of a permanent exhibition at the National Archaeology Collection.