Gold and Silver Roman Coins Found During Construction Work in England

Construction workers in Worcestershire, England, have uncovered a remarkable treasure: a hoard of 1,368 ancient Roman coins made of gold and silver. The hoard, part of it dating back to Emperor Nero’s reign (AD 54–68), is the largest collection of coins from his era ever found.

The discovery, made in the Leigh and Bransford area west of Worcester is estimated to be worth over $125,000 (£100,000). Experts from Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums hailed it as one of the most significant archaeological finds in the county in a century.

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Details of the hoard of silver Roman coins

Most of the coins are silver denarii, minted in Rome during the Roman Republic as early as 157 BC and through to Nero’s rule. Among them is a rare gold Iron Age stater, created by the Dobunni, a local British tribe, between AD 20 and 45. The Dobunni inhabited the area now known as Worcestershire and neighboring regions to the south and west.

The gold and silver coins were likely the savings of a wealthy local farmer, experts believe. This farmer may have earned his fortune supplying grain and livestock to the Roman army.

Specialists noted that the large number of coins would have been a significant amount of money at the time they were buried. The gold and silver coins were discovered in a pottery vessel thought to have been crafted at a kiln near the base of Malvern Hills.

Dr. Murray Andrews, a lecturer in British archaeology at University College London, called the find “remarkable.”

“It’s the most miraculous thing I’ve seen over the last 100 years,” he said. “It tells us about what was happening here 2,000 years ago, when the Malvern Hills were maybe the boundary of the Roman Empire.”

Efforts to secure the hoard for public display

The discovery, made in late 2023, was officially declared a treasure by a Worcestershire coroner in June 2024.Worcestershire Heritage, Art & Museums announced plans to raise funds to purchase the coins for public display.

The organization aims to collect £6,000 ($7,500), with additional costs expected to be covered by grants. If the funds cannot be raised, the hoard will be returned to the finders or landowners, potentially preventing it from ever being seen by the public.

Karen May, chair of Worcestershire County Council’s joint museums committee, described the find as a vital part of local history. “What a fantastic find and so important for anyone wishing to understand more about the county’s heritage,” she said.

This hoard is the third major discovery of its kind in the area in the past 25 years. In 1999, 434 silver coins and 38 pottery fragments were unearthed near Chaddesley Corbett. In 2011, two detectorists from Redditch discovered a clay pot containing 3,784 coins on Bredon Hill.

The newly discovered hoard offers a glimpse into Worcestershire’s rich history, connecting modern residents to their region’s Roman past.