For the first time on the continent: Discover the unique find of Roman and British coins (photos) that has everyone talking!

In 2023, near Bunnik in the Dutch province of Utrecht, treasure hunters discovered a hoard of 404 Roman and British coins, dated to 46 AD. Experts have called this find one of the most remarkable of its kind in Europe, writes Arkeonews.

The Leiden Museum (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) described the discovery as "a unique combination of Roman and British coins." Such a collection is an unprecedented find on the European continent. The most recent Roman coins in the collection date back to 46-47 AD, a period associated with the military campaigns of Emperor Claudius.

Among the treasure are 44 gold staters minted in Britain, bearing the name of King Cunobelin, one of the first rulers of southern Britain. Researchers believe these coins were brought back by Roman soldiers after campaigns in Britain—some as payment, others as military trophies.

This discovery sheds light on the role of the Lower Germanic Limes during the Roman invasions of Britain. This border region was crucial for preparing the first military crossing in 43 AD and later served as a return point for troops coming back with plundered treasures. The presence of these coins indicates strong economic and military ties between the two regions.

This find is the largest of its kind in Utrecht from the Roman period and the first mixed hoard of Roman and British coins ever discovered in continental Europe. Typically, such treasures have only been found in Britain.

The discovery occurred in the area of the Roman frontier, away from key Roman forts or settlements. The coins were buried around 47 AD, but the exact reason remains unclear. They may have been hidden for safekeeping or perhaps offered as a tribute to the gods in gratitude for a safe return from battle.

The British gold coins, known as staters, were made from an alloy of gold, silver, and copper. They were minted between 5 and 43 AD, during and shortly after the reign of Cunobelin, whose name is inscribed on the coins in Latin: CVNO[BELINVS]. The Roman coins feature various emperors, with the newest depicting Emperor Claudius, coinciding with Rome's first conquests in Britain.

A total of 72 Roman gold aurei were found in the hoard. Notably, two of the coins show no signs of wear, indicating they come directly from a freshly minted stock. However, the bulk of the collection consists of 288 silver denarii, dated from 200 BC to 47 BC. Among the rarest finds are coins from the time of Julius Caesar and a coin depicting the Numidian king Juba.

The hoard was initially discovered by Gert-Jan Messelaar and Reinier Klink, who reported it to the authorities through the Utrecht Landscape Heritage archaeology hotline. Archaeologist Anton Kroyser analyzed the coins, which were subsequently entered into the Portable Antiquities of the Netherlands (PAN) database. Further excavations carried out by the National Cultural Heritage Agency uncovered 381 coins, which became part of the hoard.

The coins are now part of the National Archaeological Collection of the Netherlands and are housed in the Leiden Museum. Visitors can view them in the museum's permanent exhibition "The Netherlands in Roman Times."

We also reported on the "rhinoceros" found beneath the highway. Archaeologists discovered a 1500-year-old stone coffin from the Roman era, weighing 750 kilograms.