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In Switzerland A farmer unearths a huge treasure of more than 4,000 ancient Roman coins

An extensive Roman coin collection has been found in a Swiss orchard, one of the most significant archeological discoveries.

In Ueken, a tiny village in northwestern Switzerland, a farmer discovered the ancient coins several months ago.

He excavated them by accident while inspecting his cherry trees. He then contacted local archaeological experts, who confirmed the presence of a collection of more than 4,000 bronze and silver Roman coins.

Huge treasure of more than 4,000 ancient Roman coins

Large troves of Roman coins are often found in Britain. A collection of nearly 60,000 rusted coins known as the Frome Hoard was found in a field in Somerset in 2009.

This Swiss collection is also one of the largest ever found outside the UK, making it very special.



Archaeologists explain that Roman coins are typically found buried in large quanтιтies, maybe because they were offered as a ritual gift to the Roman gods.

An extensive collection of Roman coins has been found

On the other hand, the Frome Hoard was left in place and mostly forgotten until relatively recently. Although most of the Swiss coins have been dug up, no specific function has yet been proposed.

However, the coins were removed from circulation shortly after their introduction, but they are estimated to have been worth between one and two years’ wages at the time.

The coins, made of bronze and silver components, have been remarkably well-preserved in the soil.

One of the most important archaeological discoveries

Their silver content would have guaranteed specific value conservation in a time of economic uncertainty.”



Swiss archaeologist Georg Matter was thrilled by the discovery.

“As an archaeologist, one hardly experiences something like this more than once in one’s career,” he told Spiegel Online.

A farmer discovered the ancient coins a few months ago

As exciting as the discovery is, though, the Swiss farmer who first discovered the coins won’t be able to keep his find.

The coins will be on display at the Vindonissa de Brugg Museum in the Swiss canton of Aargau, which focuses on Roman history.