ROMAN COIN HOARD FOUND IN SWITZERLAND

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The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 47, November 22, 2015, Article 29

ROMAN COIN HOARD FOUND IN SWITZERLAND

Arthur Shippee forwarded an article about a recent Roman coin hoard find in Switzerland. The article was in German, and he added "Das ist echt geil!" Fortunately Andy Singer forwarded a version of a similar story in English from the BBC News. Thanks! -Editor

The stash of more than 4,000 bronze and silver coins is believed to have been buried some 1,700 years ago.

Weighing around 15kg (33lb), he discovered the coins after spotting something shimmering in a molehill.

The regional archaeological service said the coin trove was one of the biggest such finds in Swiss history.

The trove was unearthed in July in Ueken in the northern canton of Aargau.

Since a Roman settlement was discovered in the nearby town of Frick, just a few months before, he suspected the coins might be of Roman origin.

The farmer contacted the regional archaeological service who, after months of careful excavation, announced on Thursday that 4,166 coins had been found in excellent condition.

Some of the coins date from AD 274 and the rule of Emperor Aurelian. The find also included coins from the time of Emperor Maximian in 294.

Swiss archaeologist Georg Matter, who worked on the excavation, said what they found within the first three days "exceeded all expectations by far".

To read the complete BBC article, see:
Trove of ancient Roman coins found in Switzerland (www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34872657)

To read the complete article in German, see:
Spektakulärer Fund: Aargauer Bauer stösst auf römischen Münzschatz (www.aargauerzeitung.ch/aargau/fricktal/spektakulaerer-fund-aargauer-bauer-stoesst-auf-roemischen-muenzschatz-129745544)

Dick Hanscomb forwarded an article from the Daily Mail, which has some more images. Thanks! It's unclear to me though, if this image of a conservator at work is of one of the coins in this hoard, or a stock photo. Interesting setup - there is a drain built into the table, with a water spigot pointing at the coin. Does the conservator work it with a foot pedal? Is any arrangement like this common at museums? -Editor

To read the complete article, see:
In the money! Massive hoard of 4,000 Roman coins unearthed in Switzerland after lying undisturbed under a cherry tree for 1,700 years (www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3326915/Hoard-4-000-Roman-coins-unearthed-Money-laid-undisturbed-beneath-Swiss-cherry-tree-1-700-years.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

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