Italian construction crew stumbles upon hidden stash of ancient gold coins


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
A construction crew in northern Italy unearthed an ancient storage jug and was surprised to find that the vessel alone was not the only discovery.
The Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities said that that the jug, an amphora, held about 300 gold coins that date back more than 1,500 years, LiveScience reported Tuesday.
The amphora and coins are estimated to be from 474 A.D., around the time that the Roman Empire was collapsing. After finding the artifacts in Como, Italy, while working on the site of an abandoned movie theater, the construction crew called in a team of archaeologists. The excavators determined that the jug likely once held wine or olive oil, making it unusual that this particular amphora was used as a piggy bank for a considerable treasure trove.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
While several sites have turned up ancient coins, it's rare to find so many in one place — and gold coins in particular. The ministry called it an "extraordinary discovery," reports LiveScience. Because the coins were hidden away in the amphora, they are in remarkable condition, a lead archaeologist told the Times of London. "More than exceptional, it's epochal," said Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli, "one of those discoveries that marks the course of history."
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Summer is news editor at TheWeek.com, and has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School and Santa Clara University, she now lives in New York with two cats.
-
Today's political cartoons — September 30, 2023
Saturday's cartoons - Trump's poll numbers, the Hunter Biden investigation, and more
By The Week Staff Published
-
10 things you need to know today: September 30, 2023
Daily Briefing Government shutdown looms after failed House vote, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein dies at 90, and more
By Justin Klawans Published
-
All about Zealandia, the Earth’s potential 8th continent
The Explainer The secret continent went undiscovered for over 300 years
By Devika Rao Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published