Scientists have found a pile of 2,000-year-old Roman coins that may have been hidden by a soldier during a bloody civil war in Italy. It has been reported live science.
Archaeologists have found a treasure trove of 175 silver coins, Roman denarii, today equivalent to tens of thousands of dollars. The coin was hidden in a terracotta pot and was buried on purpose. Researchers discovered the treasure in 2021, but kept the discovery a secret so that they could fully explore its location.
The coins date back to 82 BC. Meanwhile, Italy was plunged into civil war. The area where the treasure was located was probably wooded at the time. No artifacts were found near the treasure, but the remains of a Roman farm were found about a kilometer away.
Given that the owner did not return for the coins, scholars have suggested that the treasure may have been hidden by a Roman soldier who later died in battle. But historian Federico Santangelo, a professor at the university, told Live Science that the coins may have been hidden by a businessman who wanted to keep his money safe during turbulent times. Maybe later he couldn’t find them.