A Romanian metal detectorist named Marius M. recently made a discovery when he unearthed a hoard of 1,469 ancient Roman silver coins while hiking near the village of Letca Veche in southern Romania. According to the New York Post, the coins, known as denarii, date back at least 2,000 years and are of incalculable value.
"I never thought this day would surprise me and confront me with antiquity," said Marius M., as reported by the New York Post. He had set out for a hike with his metal detector for exercise and relaxation, not expecting to find anything valuable. "I even thought about pinching myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming," he added.
As he walked through the field, his metal detector emitted a strong signal from a specific spot of grass. Curious, Marius began to dig and soon uncovered a quantity of coins. "At that moment, I could feel my heart beating quite hard," he recalled.
After spending two days meticulously photographing each of the 1,469 coins, Marius handed them over to the authorities at the Letca Nouă Town Hall, about 15 kilometers from the discovery site. The coins were counted in the presence of police officers and are now being inventoried.
Under Romanian law, individuals who make valuable finds with metal detectors and report them are entitled to a reward of up to 45% of the value of the finds. While the exact value of the hoard is yet to be determined, experts believe the coins are of historical and monetary worth. Similar discoveries in the past have been estimated to be worth around 150,000 euros.
The silver coins date from the Roman Imperial period and bear the engraved faces of eleven Roman emperors and empresses, including figures such as Vespasian, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius, spanning from the reign of Nero in CE 54 to Marcus Aurelius in CE 161. "The Roman coin was also a propaganda tool; it spread the glory of Rome throughout the region with its engraved messages," said archaeologist Catalin Borangic, who spoke with the Romanian broadcaster TVR Info, according to Bild.
The discovery site yielded not only coins but also ceramic shards, indicating that the hoard was either intentionally buried or the vessel containing the coins was deliberately broken in a protective ritual before burial. Police have documented the location, which is now secured for future archaeological investigations.
The treasure has been inventoried and will be handed over to the County Directorate for Culture, where it will be evaluated. Eventually, the coins are expected to be displayed to the public at the Teohari Antonescu County Museum in Giurgiu.
The find excites both hobby treasure hunters and archaeologists alike, coming shortly after another treasure was discovered in Breaza, Romania. Experts say the hoard is one of the largest Roman coin treasures ever uncovered in the country.
The mayor of Letca Nouă, Marian Negru, expressed his enthusiasm for the discovery, telling TVR Info that tourists now have yet another reason to visit their town, which is steeped in Roman history. The evaluation of the coins, which now belong to the Romanian state, may take months.
Reflecting on his unexpected encounter with history, Marius shared on Facebook, "I did not expect that this day would surprise me. To whom did the coins belong and for whom were they intended? I hope that one day I will go with my child to the museum where I can explain how I was lucky enough to discover a page of the history of our people."
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.