Thursday, September 23, 2021

 A group of 53 Roman gold coins have been discovered on the seabed off the coast of Xàbia in Alicante, southeastern Spain. They are gold solidi ranging in date from the late 4th to the early 5th century, and are in such excellent condition that all the coins but one could be identified. There are three solidi from the reign of Emperor Valentinian I, seven from  Valentinian II, 15 from Theodosius I, 17 from Arcadius and 10 from Honorius.


Gold has its own "look" in the water.  Once you see it, you'll always recognize it.  

The coins were discovered on the sea bottom next to Portitxol island, a popular destination for sport divers because of the rich marine life that inhabits its seaweed meadows of its rocky bed. Even so, it managed to hide dozens of Roman gold coins for 1,500 years until freedivers Luis Lens and César Gimeno spotted eight flashes of light on the seafloor. At first they thought they were modern ten cent pieces, or maybe mother-of-pearl shells gleaming in the water. They picked up two of them.

When they returned to the boat, they saw that they were ancient gold coins bearing identical profiles of a Roman emperor. They immediately alerted city officials to their discovery and led marine archaeologists to the find site.


Via the always good History Blog.



5 comments:

  1. Awesome: calling city officials instead of looting.

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure finding something lost for 1500 years is looting.

      Also, who are they looting it from? The Romans that lost it? The Spanish who claims the land now? Ancient Iberians who had their gold taken from them by the Romans?

      On the other hand, the government loots us every day.

      I hope they get a substantial reward.

      Delete
  2. I don't understand why they contacted city officials at all. Seems dumb. Remember, don't start no shit, won't be no shit.

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  3. IF you were by yourself, I could understand trying to keep it secret.
    Once two know or more, yer gonna get caught if you don't inform the authorities. So0p[;'/8meone will blab.

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  4. Suckers.
    Find them yourself. Sell them. They still end up in a museum, but you get the benefit.

    And it's not looting.
    International law provides that anything lost that long is purely finders keepers.
    It's the local government edicts that are looting. They demand something they don't deserve, for something they didn't find, for something that never belonged to them.

    That's criminal, 100%. Before, during, and after, by intent and express design.

    ReplyDelete