Archaeologists unearthed a hoard of 141 ancient Roman gold solidi in Luxembourg. Struck 1,700 years ago between A.D. 364 and 408, the coins span eight emperors and one usurper: Eugenius, an illegitimate emperor who reigned for just two years. Due to his short time in power, his coins are particularly special.
According to researchers from the National Institute for Archaeological Research (INRA) in Luxembourg, “This is a major archaeological discovery because it is extremely rare to be able to study an ancient monetary deposit in its entirety in its archaeological context.”
The find is so significant that it was kept secret for nearly four years—the coins were discovered near the foundation of a burgus (a small Roman fort) in 2020. The site posed an extra challenge, as multiple munitions and explosives from World War II were buried in the area, and the Luxembourg Army Mine Action Service was brought in to help with the dig.
The coins are in excellent condition and are valued at €308,600 (nearly US$322,000). Luxembourg Cultural Minister Eric Thill says studying the hoard “will undoubtedly increase our knowledge and understanding of the last century of the Roman Empire in the West.
A version of this article appears in the March 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).