Trier Gold Hoard
The 'Trier Gold Hoard' was the largest Roman gold hoard ever discovered.
Comprising of 2516 gold coins weighing 18.5kg, found in Trier, Germany, in September 1993 during construction works nearly 1800 years after it was hidden.
The discovery of the Gold Hoard in Trier in 1993 caused quite a sensation.
On 9 September 1993, an excavator unearthed and ripped apart a bronze cauldron during excavations for an underground parking garage.
Part of cauldron and some coins went to a dump site, initially unnoticed. After the first coins were detected at the excavation site, treasure hunters also began to search the earth at the dump site.
An amateur archaeologist, Erich Eixner, went back to the excavation site at night and found the larger part of the bronze cauldron, containing 560 coins and an additional lump of 1500 coins, using his metal detector.
He informed the authorities of his discovery and received about 20,000 DM, a fraction of the estimated worth.
Greater inspection revealed that it was not simply someone's personal fortune but most likely an official treasury.
Treasury had been carefully administered and had grown over time. Hoard equated to the annual salary of around 130 Roman soldiers.
The aurei (gold coins) feature a total of 27 emperors, empresses and members of the imperial family, and some are still considered unique to this day.
According to researchers, the hoard was hidden for the first time in 167 AD, probably because of the Antonine Plague.
The last time it was probably buried in a cellar during civil war while Augusta Treverorum was beleaguered by Clodius Albinus, since latest coins were struck in 196 AD under Septimius Severus.
Clodius Albinus had caused a revolt against Emperor Septimius Severus when he appointed his son Caracalla as successor to the throne instead of Albinus.
The former administrator of the hoard presumably took the knowledge of the secret stash with him to grave.
The earliest coins in the hoard were minted 63 AD, during the reign of Nero.
Around 99% of the coins were minted before 167 AD. Only 6 coins were struck between 193-196 AD.
Coins weigh between 5.8-7.6 grams.
40 Roman emperors and their relatives are depicted on the coins. Total number of coins originally in the bronze cauldron is estimated to be 2650.
Today, this unique ensemble is exhibited in the coin collection at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier.
The state museum is among the largest archaeological museums in Germany and displays a total of 12,000 coins in its exhibition.
In addition to archaeological finds, the Gold Hoard presentation room also provides extensive information on the emergence of the monetary system, and how ancient, medieval and modern money has been produced.
