Archaeologists in Luxembourg unearthed a treasure of 141 Roman gold coins, known as solidi, dating back to the late 4th century CE at the village of Holzthum in northern Luxembourg. The coins were minted between 364 and 408 CE and feature the portraits of eight emperors, including Emperor Eugenius, who reigned for only two years from 392 to 394 CE, according to Archaeology Magazine.
The discovery is considered a major archaeological find due to the rarity of studying an entire ancient money deposit in its original context. The coins are in excellent condition and were valued at approximately €308,600 (about $322,000) after independent analysis.
The treasure was first discovered in 2019 when two amateur archaeologists found a gold coin in a nearby field. Recognizing the importance of their find, they promptly contacted authorities. The discovery was kept secret for almost four years during which archaeologists excavated the site.
The excavation was conducted by the National Institute for Archaeological Research (INRA) from 2020 to 2024, with professional excavation beginning in 2020. The Luxembourg Army Mine Action Service (SEDAL) and Bomb Disposal Service assisted with the dig due to dangerous conditions posed by numerous World War II explosives and munitions buried in the area, according to Arkeonews.
The coins were found near the foot of a late Roman fortified tower, known as a burgus, which was used for military observation. The excavations also uncovered several graves surrounding the burgus, providing further insights into the site’s history, as reported by Arkeonews.
Emperor Eugenius's coins are particularly noteworthy due to their rarity. Eugenius came to power with the support of the general Arbogast, a Frank, following the mysterious death of Emperor Valentinian II. His reign was marked by political instability and conflict with the Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius I, leading to the Battle of Frigidus in 394 CE. Eugenius was defeated and killed in the battle, an event that led to his execution and the consolidation of Christian authority in the empire, as detailed by Archaeologymag.com.
The coins serve as a testimony to the geopolitical and cultural changes in the late Roman Empire, including increased Germanic influence such as that of the Franks. “It will still take some time to process the excavations and finds, but it will undoubtedly expand our knowledge and understanding of the last century of the Roman Empire in the West,” said Luxembourg's Minister of Culture Eric Till, according to Unn.ua.
The researchers plan to conduct further analysis of the hoard and eventually publish the results in a research journal. The findings are expected to expand knowledge of the Roman Empire’s frontier defenses in Gallia Belgica. Discussions about where the hoard should be displayed are still underway, as mentioned by Archaeologymag.com.
The value of the hoard was compensated to the landowner in accordance with Luxembourg’s cultural heritage laws. The solidus coins remained relatively stable over the centuries and spread throughout the Mediterranean region, serving as a stable currency introduced in the fourth century, according to Archaeologymag.com.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.