Large Roman Coin Hoard Discovered in Germany
A significant find of Roman silver coins and precious metals was made in northern Germany, though it went unreported for several years. The Lower Saxony’s Monument Conservation Office announced the discovery in October, revealing that the treasure was located near Borsum in the Hildesheim district.
This hoard included 450 silver coins, along with silver bars, gold rings, and gold coins. It’s quite an impressive stash, really. What’s surprising, though, is that this 2,000-year-old treasure was found by metal detectorists in 2017 but only reported in April 2025.
Archaeologists from the NLD visited the site in October to investigate further and recover any remaining objects that could still be in the ground. They seemed particularly interested in understanding more about how this treasure was initially buried, despite knowing that much of the original context was likely lost due to prior excavation.
In fact, the statement noted that some additional coins were found during their survey, which suggests that not everything had been taken initially. The treasure is regarded as one of the largest collections of Roman coins in Lower Saxony.
According to officials, the coins date back to the early Roman Empire, a period characterized by interactions, both friendly and hostile, between Romans and Germanic tribes. Still, a thorough scientific analysis is needed to reveal more details.
The NLD emphasized the importance of determining the origins and purpose of the burial – were they Romans or Germanic? It’s a question that obviously needs myriads of answers. Luckily, though, since the statute of limitations is up, there won’t be any legal issues for the detectorists involved.
Interestingly, while discoveries like this aren’t everyday occurrences, they are not entirely unheard of in the region. Archaeologist Sebastian Messal mentioned other finds, such as 3,000 coins in Gäveli and over 1,100 Roman coins found at Lengelich, indicating this area has a rich history.
As of mid-January, it appears that the treasure is still waiting for a detailed scientific evaluation. Messal pointed out that the potential financial value could be considerable, depending on the condition of the coins, with Roman denarii potentially selling for up to 130 euros each.
Despite the damages done during the initial excavation, the scientific value of the hoard is still significant, according to German authorities. Messal noted that it’s unusual for such a discovery to remain a secret since there is a legal obligation to report findings in Lower Saxony. He asserted how important it is for new discoveries to be excavated under the right scientific conditions.
