Treasure of 50,000 ancient coins sunk under the sea

Italy Experts found about 30,000 - 50,000 bronze coins, minted nearly 1,700 years ago, under the Mediterranean Sea.

The Italian Ministry of Culture announced on November 4 that tens of thousands of bronze coins dating back to the first half of the 4th century had been discovered in a seagrass bed off the coast of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, near the town of Arzachena, Italy. The ministry did not provide details of the discovery, only saying that a diver had spotted the metal, which led to an extensive archaeological investigation. The site had an interesting shape and location, raising the possibility that there was a shipwreck nearby.

The newly discovered coins are of the follis type (a type of Roman and Byzantine coin), numbering between 30,000 and 50,000, surpassing the remarkable 2013 discovery in Seaton, England, of 22,888 coins. The coins were discovered alongside a series of amphoras of African and Oriental origin.

Most of the coins are in good condition, with only four damaged but still legible. The minting period is from 324 to before 346. The coins come from nearly every Roman mint operating during that period.

The conservation and analysis of the coins promises to provide further insights into their historical context. "The Arzachena treasure represents one of the most important discoveries of coinage in recent years," said Luigi La Rocca, head of the Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape (ABAP) unit of the Italian Ministry of Culture, describing the significance of the new find.

La Rocca also highlighted the richness of the archaeological heritage at sea, where people and goods have been regularly transported since ancient times. He also highlighted the fragility of this heritage due to natural and human impacts, as well as the efforts of the Italian Ministry of Culture to protect it with advanced restoration and conservation techniques. Currently, experts continue to study the ancient vault near the town of Arzachena to learn more about ancient maritime trade and the vast influence of the Roman Empire.

Thu Thao (According to Ancient Origins )

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