Seleccions

Seleccions

Seleccions

Spain beach
Home›Spain beach›amateur divers discover a treasure of 53 Roman gold coins in Spain | Smart News

amateur divers discover a treasure of 53 Roman gold coins in Spain | Smart News

By James K. Martin
September 28, 2021
0
0
Share:


Two men found the pieces while diving in Portitxol Bay along the Mediterranean coast.
Alicante University

Last month, two men snorkelling off Spain’s Mediterranean coast on a family vacation found a stash of Roman coins that turned out to be one of the largest of its kind ever discovered in Europe.

The gold coins date between the fourth and fifth centuries AD, Rafa Burgos reports for El Pais. Brothers-in-law Luis Lens and César Gimeno spent two hours using the corkscrew of a Swiss army knife to free eight of the pieces from a rock crevice about 20 feet underwater in Portitxol Bay.

Later they contacted the local authorities and returned with underwater archaeologists from the city of Xàbia, the University of Alicante (UA) and the Spanish Civil Guard. The team eventually recovered 53 coins, 3 nails, and lead shards that were likely once part of a chest that contained the treasure.

“It’s amazing”, says Lens El País. “It’s every child’s dream to find a treasure. “

The pieces are in such good condition that researchers were able to read inscriptions on all but one, Jack Guy reports for CNN. The Roman rulers depicted included Valentinian I (3 coins), Valentinian II (7 coins), Theodosius I (15 coins), Arcadius (17 coins) and Honorius (10 coins). The reigns of these emperors lasted from 364 to 423 CE

Amateur divers discover treasure of 53 Roman gold coins in Spain

The inscriptions on the pieces date them from the 4th to the 5th century AD.

Alicante University

“It’s very important,” AU historian Jaime Molina Vidal, who led the underwater investigation, told CNN. “It’s extremely valuable.

Molina says the pieces were likely intentionally hidden rather than lost in a shipwreck. A wealthy local landowner may have hidden them to protect them from invaders. During the 5th century AD, “barbarian” groups, including the Alans, Suevi and Vandals, advanced on Hispania (now Spain and Portugal), taking advantage of the power vacuum left by the failing Western Roman Empire.

“[T]he towns were in decline and power had shifted to the great Roman villas, to the countryside, ”says Molina. El País. “To exchange [had] been eradicated and the sources of wealth [became] agriculture and animal husbandry.

According to Molina, the owner of the coins was probably not able to use them as currency in the chaotic circumstances, but wanted to preserve them for the future. The individual apparently took the coins out onto a boat and sunk them in the bay, but died before he could recover their hidden treasure.

Researchers will restore the pieces and exhibit them at the Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Xàbia, UA notes in a statement. The Valencian government is providing around $ 21,000 for further underwater excavations in the area.

Archeology Artefacts Coins Cool Finds Money Roman Empire Spain


Related posts:

  1. Volcano in Spain: “before” and “after” images show the extent of the destruction of the La Palma volcano | Spain
  2. Video: Spanish church steeple collapses due to volcano lava
  3. Nine days after eruption, lava from La Palma volcano reaches the ocean
  4. Italy vs Spain: scheduled lineup, kick-off time, how and where to watch on TV and online
Previous Article

Leading multinationals invest in data center markets ...

Next Article

With European tourism on the decline, now ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • Spain beach

    MATCHDAY: Man City have attacking problems, Napoli v Inter

    November 20, 2021
    By James K. Martin
  • Spain beach

    Bilingual program helping Palm Beach County students

    September 30, 2021
    By James K. Martin
  • Spain beach

    2021 Olympics: Live Updates, News, Medal Count, Schedule As Allyson Felix Wins Medal, US Women’s Basketball Rolls

    August 6, 2021
    By James K. Martin
  • Spain beach

    Heathrow and Gatwick: Spain holiday warning as airport closes and flights canceled

    October 10, 2021
    By James K. Martin
  • Spain beach

    Latino community set to address VB school board on Tuesday

    March 8, 2022
    By James K. Martin
  • Spain beach

    Ethos Asset Management Inc. USA Announces Agreement in Gran Canaria, Spain, with NEW ISLAND 2020 SL, to Develop and Build ...

    December 28, 2021
    By James K. Martin

Leave a reply Cancel reply

  • Spain beach

    Win 1 of 5 £ 1,000 Thomas Cook vacations to Turkey, Greece, Spain, Egypt and Cyprus

  • Spain tourism

    The Ministry of Culture will organize book events for readers around the world

  • Spain Economy

    Signature Bank (NASDAQ:SBNY) Receives Consensus Buy Rating From Brokers