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inanna

(3,547 posts)
Fri Apr 29, 2016, 04:18 AM Apr 2016

Construction workers in Spain unearth huge trove of ancient Roman coins

Source: Washington Post

April 29 at 3:41 AM

Some 800 pounds of bronze Roman coins dating to the 4th century A.D. have been unearthed by construction workers digging ditches in Spain.

The find, in 19 amphora — storage containers — is unique not only because of the volume of coins but because the coins appear to have never been in circulation, making them almost pristine by comparison with other discoveries.

Workers in the city of Tomares, in Andalusia, were working on installing a water line to a park in the city of 24,000, according to the Spanish newspaper El País, when they noticed irregular terrain inside a ditch about a meter below ground level.

Some of the containers were broken, with the coins spilling out of them, while others were intact. They show an emperor on one side and Roman allegories on the other, researchers told reporters. Experts are speculating that the coins were meant to pay taxes or support legions of the Roman armies in Spain at the time.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/04/29/construction-workers-in-spain-unearth-huge-trove-of-ancient-roman-coins/

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Construction workers in Spain unearth huge trove of ancient Roman coins (Original Post) inanna Apr 2016 OP
Wow Lunabell Apr 2016 #1
D@mn! northernsouthern Apr 2016 #2
Almost too much? The quantity probably reduces their value. Thor_MN Apr 2016 #9
I bet the material and age will help them stay mostly valuable... northernsouthern Apr 2016 #11
I'm imagining the Glenn Beck of the time talking about "Bronze Line". Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2016 #3
Failed Republican Politicians Recommend Bronze Coin Investment sofa king Apr 2016 #14
Later, and just down the way, they unearthed an ancient coin-op chariot wash... n/t jtuck004 Apr 2016 #4
What a find! democrank Apr 2016 #5
Interesting... ReRe Apr 2016 #6
Wealth Hoarder houston16revival Apr 2016 #7
But what have the Romans ever done for us? iandhr Apr 2016 #8
wonder how many more of these are out there ? allan01 Apr 2016 #10
1,300 pounds is what the article reads now Xipe Totec Apr 2016 #12
Those coins are mine Blue_Tires Apr 2016 #13
 

northernsouthern

(1,511 posts)
2. D@mn!
Fri Apr 29, 2016, 04:23 AM
Apr 2016

That is literally a jackpot find. Those coins looked in amazing shape. I hope this tours the states at some point would love to see them all cleaned up.

 

Thor_MN

(11,843 posts)
9. Almost too much? The quantity probably reduces their value.
Fri Apr 29, 2016, 10:17 AM
Apr 2016

If you have "one of only six known, and the only one in pristine condition", people will be making bigger offers than "part of a hoard of thousands".

 

northernsouthern

(1,511 posts)
11. I bet the material and age will help them stay mostly valuable...
Fri Apr 29, 2016, 11:41 AM
Apr 2016

But very true if someone is a collector, and they have old worn pieces right now...they are looking at a massive price drop if these affect the open market (I assumed they were just going in to a museum, but even that seems like it would make ripples).

sofa king

(10,857 posts)
14. Failed Republican Politicians Recommend Bronze Coin Investment
Fri Apr 29, 2016, 04:41 PM
Apr 2016

"These coins are now worth many times their face value...."

ReRe

(10,597 posts)
6. Interesting...
Fri Apr 29, 2016, 06:51 AM
Apr 2016

... the containers, amphora, remind me of piggy-banks. Especially the one that is broken.

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
13. Those coins are mine
Fri Apr 29, 2016, 04:15 PM
Apr 2016

I left them there in a past life...

Please inform the Spaniards that I'll be by to collect them.

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