Over 1,300 silver coins from the time of Emperor Nero, discovered in a pot by chance

A treasure of 1,368 coins, the majority of silver, was discovered in a pot by a metal detector, in Worcestershire, a county in England, according to Live Science.

The treasure was buried around 55 AD, a period when the Roman Empire, led by Emperor Nero (reign between 54 and 68 AD), was struggling to take control over England. His predecessor Claudius (who reigned between 41 and 54 AD) invaded Britain and took control of a large part of England, but resistance continued during Nero’s reign.

In the year 60 AD, a rebellion launched by Boudica, the queen of a British tribe known as Iceni, has almost managed to drive the Romans on the island, before the empire would suppress the rebellion.

Although Nero’s forces have managed to crush the Iceni rebellion, his reign is often considered tumultuous. His mother and wife were killed during his reign. A great fire devastated Rome in 64 AD. And, according to an apocryphal story, Nero sang at the violin during his time.

In the year 68 AD, the Pretorian guard, the forces pregnant with the protection of the emperor, removed Nero from the position of leader and, shortly thereafter, died by suicide.

How old are the coins found

Although the coins were buried during Nero’s reign, some of them were beaten earlier. All the coins in the treasure, except one, are silver denari, a standard Roman currency, which were beaten between 157 BC. and 55 AD, according to a statement of Museums Worcestershire.

The only gold coin in the treasure was beaten between 20 and 45 AD. For a tribe called Dobunni, which was established in Worcestershire and in the nearby areas, it is shown in the statement.

“The coins have almost certainly entered the region through the Roman army,” the statement shows. “Their large number means that the treasure would have represented a very considerable amount of money when it was buried. The reason why the treasure was hidden is not known, but “a theory is that the treasure represents the economies of a rich local farmer, who made his money by providing the Romanian and animal army,” said the museum.

The treasure was declared “treasure”

When the treasure was buried, Worcestershire was on the border of the Roman Empire, according to the statement. This raises the question whether the battles or conflicts in the area could have caused his owner to hide it.

The treasure was found at the end of 2023 and analyzed in detail in 2024, when it was declared “treasure”, a government name given to the artifacts of precious metals that are at least 300 years old. It was evaluated at 100,000 pounds ($ 123,100). The museum is trying to raise money to purchase the treasure.

“The fundraising campaign is going very well, people are incredibly generous and it is clear that there is a real passion for the treasure to remain in Worcestershire,” said Helen Large, spokesman for Museums Worcestershire, for Live Science.