Roman silver coins hoard. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

A large hoard of Roman silver coins, dating back nearly 2,000 years, has been uncovered in central Germany, shedding new light on ancient trade and military activity along the Roman frontier. The discovery includes hundreds of silver coins, bars of precious metal, and gold items believed to have been buried during the early Roman Empire.

The find came to public attention in April, when a 31-year-old metal detectorist turned over a sealed container at a Hildesheim police station. Inside were about 450 Roman silver coins, several silver bars, a gold ring, and a gold coin from the 1st century CE.

The man told authorities he had unearthed the items in 2017 but kept them at home for fear of legal consequences.

Legal resolution clears way for archaeological work

After reviewing the case, prosecutors opened an embezzlement probe. However, they later dropped the investigation after determining the three-year statute of limitations had expired.

With the legal matter resolved, archaeologists conducted a full survey of the site near the village of Borsum, where the hoard had originally been found. Additional Roman coins were recovered during the excavation.

Sebastian Messal, regional department head at the Lower Saxony State Office for Heritage Conservation, said the discovery holds major scientific value. He explained that the hoard ranks among the largest collections of Roman silver ever recovered in Lower Saxony and could offer crucial insights into the region’s connections with the Roman world.

The metal detectorist, whose name has not been released, cooperated fully with authorities. He provided GPS coordinates, photographs, and a detailed account of the initial discovery.

Under Lower Saxony’s heritage law, major archaeological finds are considered joint property of the state and the finder. However, any division of ownership occurs only after a complete scientific review.

Ongoing study aims to uncover historical context

Researchers are now analyzing how the treasure ended up in the soil. They are studying the distribution of the objects, soil layers, and corrosion patterns. The coins date to a time when Roman forces were expanding east of the Rhine and had increasing contact with Germanic communities.

It remains unclear whether Roman troops buried the hoard or whether it was seized during conflict and hidden by local groups. Scholars hope that numismatic analysis and soil studies will help clarify its origins.

The Lower Saxony heritage office is preparing a technical report that will compare the Borsum hoard with other Roman silver deposits found in Germany. Conservation efforts are ongoing, and museums in the Hildesheim district have expressed interest in displaying selected pieces once preservation work is complete.