Key Takeaways:
– George Ridgway, a British archaeologist, discovered a hoard of ancient Roman coins worth $176,000.
– The treasure includes gold and silver coins from as early as 206 B.C.
– The coins were likely buried by a soldier who served in Rome’s XX Legion stationed in what is now Colchester, England.
– A portion of the coins will be displayed in national museums, while the rest went under the hammer.
– The notable auction far exceeded expectations, generating over $176,000.
Unearthing History
Driven by his childhood dream of history hunting, UK-based archaeologist George Ridgway realized his passion by discovering a treasure trove of ancient gold and silver coins worth $176,000. His historical hunt in an unsuspecting Suffolk field in September 2019 led to this significant discovery, stretching back to Roman times. His knowledge of a previous Roman way near the field had prompted Ridgway to explore the area.
Treasure Traces back to Ancient Rome
Ridgway’s discovery includes two Roman brooches dating back to the 1st century which he unearthed following a mere 30-yard shift in position. Shortly after, he found a silver coin issued in 46BC by Julius Caesar himself. A subsequent three-hour hunt yielded 160 additional silver coins and fragments of pottery.
A Protracted Rescue
Upon realizing the significance of his historical find, Ridgway called his father to safeguard the site as they awaited the arrival of an archaeological team for a proper excavation. Over a span of three months, the team managed to recover the hoard in its entirety.
According to coin specialist Alice Cullen from Noonans Auctions, during the excavation phase, the team uncovered more Roman gold and silver coins, with the total number hitting 748. These dated back to as early as 206 B.C. Alice referred to it as one of the largest hoards of Iron Age and Roman era coins ever discovered on UK soil.
According to Cullen, the presence of the XX Legion from Rome, stationed in what is now called Colchester, England, suggested the original owner could have been a Roman soldier. This soldier might have buried those coins during a fierce local battle around 47 A.D.
Exceeding Auction Expectations
Sixty-three of these priceless finds were claimed by the British Museum and Colchester & Ipswich Museum for their collections. The remaining coins were auctioned by Noonans. Although the auction house initially estimated the sale to fetch around $100,000, the outcome surpassed expectations, drawing in over $176,000.
Among the sold pieces, a coin issued by Gaius Caesar, also known as Caligula, featuring a portrait of Empress Agrippina, and dated A.D. 37-38, sold for around $9,295. Another coin issued by Claudius and dated back to A.D. 41-42 sold for roughly $6,640.
The delighted Ridgway shared that he’d be splitting the proceeds from the sale with the owner of the land wherein the coins were discovered. For him, unearthing such a treasure was akin to a dream come true.
“I was inspired by my childhood hero Indiana Jones to start history hunting when I was 4 years old, and I dreamed of finding a Roman hoard since my grandmother bought me a metal detector for my 12th birthday,” said Ridgway. “It was an awe-inspiring moment when I realized that I had found one!”