In 2024, Museums Worcestershire launched a fundraising campaign to acquire a hoard of ancient Roman coins discovered in Worcestershire, England. "The fundraising campaign is doing really well, people are being incredibly generous, and it's clear to see that there's real passion for the hoard to stay in Worcestershire," said Helen Large, a spokesperson for Museums Worcestershire, according to Live Science.
A metal detectorist uncovered the hoard of 1,368 ancient coins, mostly silver denarii from the Roman era, in a pot in Worcestershire. The oldest coin in the treasure dates from 157 BCE, and the only gold coin found is a stater minted between 20 and 45 CE by the local Dobunni tribe, who inhabited the area during that time, according to Live Science.
The treasure is valued at £100,000 ($123,100). The coins are a testament to Roman influence on the local economy, and the territory underwent Romanization in all aspects, including culture, traditions, and constructions, according to La República.
Estimated to have been buried around 55 CE during Emperor Nero's reign, the hoard reflects a tumultuous period in Roman history. At the time, the Roman Empire, under Nero, was struggling to maintain control over England following the earlier invasion by Emperor Claudius.
The majority of the coins are silver denarii minted between 157 BCE and 55 CE, spanning from the Roman Republic to the early Roman Empire. The presence of coins from different periods suggests that Worcestershire was integrated into a broader commercial system extending from the Mediterranean to the British Isles. At the time the hoard was buried, Worcestershire was on the frontier of the Roman Empire, indicating its role in Roman trade networks, according to Live Science.
The reason the hoard was hidden remains a mystery. One theory, suggested by museum officials, is that it represents the savings of a wealthy local farmer who obtained his wealth by supplying grain and livestock to the Roman army.
Emperor Nero's reign was tumultuous, marked by internal strife and challenges to authority. Nero's reign ended with his mother's and wife's murders, the great fire in Rome in 64 CE, and finally his suicide. According to popular stories, Nero was suspected of being the mastermind behind the fire in 64 CE, during which he allegedly played a fiddle.
In 60 CE, Boudica, the queen of the Iceni tribe in Britain, launched a major rebellion against Rome, which almost succeeded in driving the Romans out of England before she was ultimately defeated.
The discovery is considered an exceptional finding for the history of Roman occupation in the Worcestershire region.
The hoard was declared treasure in 2024, a designation given to artifacts made of precious metals that are at least 300 years old.
Sources: La República, Sozcu, Kompas, Live Science, La Nacin
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq