Freedivers amateurs discovered a large collection gold Roman coins off Spain's coast. The University of Alicante
Spanish amateur freedivers have found one of Europe's largest collections of Roman gold coins.
53 coins from the collection date back to the 4th & 5th centuries. They are almost perfectly preserved.
Researchers suggest that the coins may have been hidden from looters barbarians.
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A treasure trove of 53 beautifully preserved gold coins dating back to the Roman Empire was discovered by freedivers off Spain's coast. It is one of the most extensive collections of its kind ever found in Europe.
Csar Gimeno and Luis Lens, their brothers-in-law, were on vacation in Xbia (Spain) when they went freediving in Mediterranean Sea. According to The Times, they were cleaning up trash as they explored underwater scenery. Newspaper El Pais stated that they found a shiny object that looked like a 10 cent coin.
They found an inscription that had an ancient Greek or Roman face, and assumed it to be jewelry.
They found seven more coins in a rock crevice using the corkscrew from a Swiss Army knife.
A team of archaeologists and scuba divers discovered 53 gold coins, three nails and the remains of what looked like a chest after reporting the discovery to local authorities.
The coins were analyzed by scientists from the University Institute for Research in Archeology and Historical Heritage. They were found to be from the late 4th century and early 5th centuries.
It's amazing. Luis Lens shared the amazing news with El Pais that it is every child's dream, to find a treasure.
Freedivers amateurs discovered a large collection gold Roman coins off Spain's coast. The University of Alicante
Jaime Molina from the University of Alicante was the head of the team of underwater archaeologists. He stated that "it is one of largest sets of Roman Gold Coins found in Spain or Europe."
The coins are so well preserved that it makes this discovery even more remarkable.
Researchers were able identify the emperors from the coins as Valentinian I (3 coin), Valentinian 2 (7 coins), Todosio 1 (15 coins), Todosio II (15 coins), Todosio III (15 coins), Arcadi 17 coins, Honorius (10 coins) and an unidentified coin.
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Molina stated that the discovery could offer a wealth of new information to help understand the final phase in the fall of Western Roman Empire.
Historians believe that the coins were hidden intentionally to avoid looting barbarians such as the Alans.
They claimed that the coins revealed the historical moment of insecurity caused by the arrival of barbarians such as the Suevi and Vandals, which led to the fall of Rome's Empire.
According to the University of Alicante, the coins will be restored and exhibited at the Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnographic Museo of Xbia.
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