A metal detector enthusiast from Giurgiu, Romania, unearthed a remarkable treasure trove of ancient Roman silver coins. According to the New York Post, Marius Mangeac discovered 1,469 silver coins on a farm near the village of Letca Veche, approximately 50 kilometers from Bucharest.
"I took my detector and went out alone into nature, as I do regularly, for exercise and relaxation in the forest," Mangeac wrote in a Facebook post. "I never thought this day would surprise me and confront me with antiquity."
The coins are believed to be at least 2,000 years old and hold incalculable value. "I thought I might be dreaming," Mangeac said, adding that he considered pinching himself to ensure he was awake. He noted that his heart was "beating quite hard" upon seeing the silver denarii.
After spending two days photographing each of the coins, Mangeac handed the treasure over to local authorities at the Letca Noua Town Hall. The coins were counted in the presence of two police officers. Under Romanian law, such finds must be surrendered to the state, but the finder is entitled to a reward of up to 45% of the estimated value.
The hoard consists of silver denarii dating from the Roman Imperial period. The coins bear the engraved faces of famous emperors such as Vespasian, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius, spanning from the reign of Nero in CE 54 to Marcus Aurelius in CE 161. Ceramic shards found at the discovery site indicate the hoard was originally placed in a vessel, suggesting it was either intentionally deposited or the vessel was deliberately broken in a protective ritual before burial.
Experts believe the hoard likely represents the personal cache or life savings of an individual accumulated over a long period. "I didn't know there could be so many coins from antiquity in one place," remarked archaeologist Cătălin Borangic, who spoke with the Romanian broadcaster TVR Info, according to HeritageDaily. He also noted, "The Roman coin was also a propaganda tool; it spread the glory of Rome throughout the region with its engraved messages."
The police have recorded the location of the discovery site to secure it for further archaeological investigations. The coin hoard has been inventoried and will be transferred to the County Directorate for Culture. From there, it will be assessed and prepared for permanent housing at the Teohari Antonescu County Museum in Giurgiu.
This find occurred a few weeks after two other treasure hunters found another treasure dated to the Dacian period in Breaza, Romania. Similar finds in the past have been estimated to be worth around 150,000 euros. The evaluation of the coins, which may take months, will determine the exact value of the hoard.
Mangeac expressed hope for the future display of his discovery. "I hope one day to be able to visit the museum with my child and explain to them how lucky I was to discover a page of our people's history," he said. He wondered, "To whom did the coins belong and for whom were they intended?"
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.