Roman Coins Worth $125,000 Found on Construction Site—Plus What to Do If You Find Your Own Treasure
Discover the significance behind this find, plus the best places to look for valuables in the U.S.
Finding money certainly makes for an exciting day, but that can be even more true when the currency has historic value. That was the case at a construction site in the U.K. when citizens uncovered a hoard of silver and gold coins. Keep reading to learn more about the significant discovery of a Roman coin collection, plus how to go about uncovering your own hidden treasures.
Details of the Roman coin collection discovery
In late 2023, a construction project in central England (near Worcester) led to the unearthing of a surprising find: 1,368 Iron Age and Roman coins. CBS News reports that the money was buried in a pot and discovered not by archaeologists, but by the general public.
The collection, now known as the Worcestershire Conquest Hoard, comprises both gold and silver coins. Most are silver denarii, but there is one gold coin that was minted for a British tribe that was local to the area during its creation.
Their monetary value today? More than £100,000 or $126,000. But it’s the history of these coins that has experts excited.
The significance and future of the Roman coin collection
The dating of these coins has made the discovery so special, according to historians. “The Hoard is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Worcestershire in the last 100 years,” a source at Museums Worcestershire shared to CBS News.
News outlets report that the collection can be linked to the reign of Emperor Nero, who was the fifth emperor of Rome and the last of the empire’s first dynasty. The coins date from 157 BC up to his reign from AD 54 to AD 68, and theories have developed about who may have been using the money.
One frontrunner: The belief that a wealthy local farmer made the money by supplying the army with livestock and grain.
Though it’s likely that we will never know for sure who had ownership of the coins before they were buried, experts agree the find is still a worthwhile discovery.
“It’s the most miraculous thing I’ve seen over the last 100 years,” Dr. Murray Andrews, lecturer in British archaeology at University College London, told BBC News. “It’s an important piece of archaeology. It tells us about what was happening here 2000 years ago, when the Malvern hills were maybe the boundary of the Roman Empire.”
The find may be the third to be uncovered in the area within the last 25 years (previous hoards were discovered in 2011 and 1999), but it is by far the largest collection. Its sheer size and historical significance would certainly delight history buffs or residents.
For this reason, Museums Worcestershire is determined to keep the coins in the area so others can catch a glimpse of them in person. They’re currently trying to raise the necessary funds to make this a possibility. If they can’t, the collection will have to be returned to either the landowners or people who made the discovery.
Tips for finding hidden treasures in the U.S.
The U.S. may have a much shorter history than European countries, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t treasures still waiting to be uncovered. There are several places where you may just come across a fantastic find!
In an old house
Whether you’re demolishing a house to start over or simply renovating one that needs a little love, you’d be surprised by the number of places homeowners may have hidden valuables. The experts at SpecialtyMetals.com suggest taking a closer look at these places:
- Under floorboards and steps
- Behind cinder blocks or bricks that have been removed and replaced
- In heat and cooling ducts
- Behind false panels in the backs of closets (“Tap with your knuckles to find panels that cover empty spaces,” they suggest.)
- Under stones in outdoor patios in pathways
- In hollowed-out banisters
The woods
The next time you take a hike through a public park or forest, consider bringing a metal detector alone. “Old tools, relics, and coins may lie under the ground in the woods,” share the pros MetalDetector.com.
In your wallet
Though you likely won’t uncover ancient Roman money in your house, there are plenty of rare U.S. coins that can be worth a lot of money. According to the United States Gold Bureau company, you should check for minting errors (like image or text printed twice or missing design details). Older coins, especially those minted before 1965, are also usually more valuable.
A popular treasure-hunting site
If you’d like to try your hand at being an archaeologist or scientist for the day, there are many parks and destinations around the country that actually will allow visitors to do just that. Consider paying a visit to one of these hotspots suggested by the Travel Channel:
- Big Sur, California to hunt for jade
- Bonanza Opal Mine in Nevada to mine fire opals
- Glorietta Mountain in New Mexico to search for meteorites
- Rockhound State Park in New Mexico to look for thunder eggs/geodes
- Emerald Hollow Mine in North Carolina to mine emeralds
- Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas to search for diamonds
What to do if you find treasure
Should you make the trek to a site opened to the public for treasure hunting, the park or mine will provide you with all of the information you need for your rights to any uncovered goodies.
For treasures and valuables you find in other places, it can be a bit more tricky to navigate. Your first step should be to report your find to the local authorities. Many states and cities have laws about found property. Generally, it’s expected you try and take reasonable measures to give it back to its original owner to avoid facing fines or arrest.
In most cases, if no one can prove ownership and claim the property, it’s yours to keep! Then you’re free to contact experts to find out just how much your uncovered treasure is worth.
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