Roman coin hoard found from Cuijk, The Netherlands

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Oftenly reverses of elagabalus bears the formule of SUMMUS SACERDOS AUG. Sacerdos it's clearly legible, but the rest of the writing?

[Robert Vermaat]

I can also identify the AVG, and there's an S before SACERDOS.

Here's another smallish picture from the restauration/conservation with Restaura in Roermond:


There seems to be a bracelet and a ring on the bottom of the vessel.

Link to a Dutch article:
http://www.gelderlander.nl/maasland/article838160.ece [/url]

[Johan Claeys]

I'm one of the archaeologists working on this particular dig. You'll have to excuse me: I don't have an avatar of myself wearing a Roman helmet :?

I would like to say how pleased we are to see how much enthousiasm this find evokes.

First of all: this coin hoard was found during an extensive excavation lead by our company Becker & Van de Graaf. It concerns a dig of ca. 10 ha that are completely and thoroughly researched. Quite an uncommon habit, even for the Netherlands. Nevertheless, also this dig was preceded by preliminary research by means of archive research, soundings and trenches. But this particular area appeared to be so rich in archaeology that this whole ancient sand dune was elected for excavation.

Another aspect that has not been mentionned in this thread is that the treasure in the pit was made in association with a 'lightning stroke' that was uncovered underneath this feature. When lightning strikes in sandy soil, it creates a hollow irregular tube, called a fulgurit: the sand melts into glass due to the heath of the lightning (picture below). Such features can occur up to 15 meter down the earth. We excavated ca. 1,5 m of this peculiar feature. Quite a strange feeling to have a permanent visualisation of 'lightning' in your office.



I would like to hear from you if you know similar combinations of finds? The idea does not elude us that the treasure was buried there on purpose, maybe because the lightning indicated a recognisable location (e.g. a burnt-down tree) or as an offer of the (farming) community to the god of lightning Jupiter? Of course the hypothesis of a buried treasury in fear of raiding tribes remains standing. But this was the only location on a 10 ha area where we recognized a 'lightning bolt'; coincidence seems hard, no?

Furthermore, we are also anxiously awaiting further research of the hoard. As someone of you already mentionned, this work could take several more months. It is now in the capable hands of the restoration team of Restaura in Haelen. Only one (loose) coin has as yet been cleaned and identified. The Restaura-specialists claim that according to the coloration on the röntgen photographs, probably all items within the vessel are silver. On the same pictures faint traces of the probably leather pouches can be seen. There is some hope that the purses are at least partially preserved due to their contact with the metal and due to the protective space they were confined to. On the other hand, the circumstances created by the sandy soil of this region are not favourable for preservation of any organics.

By the way, this is the second coin hoard we found here on this site :-) )
The other 'treasure' concerns a small leather pouch containing 6 silver coins (so-calles 'braspenningen') of Jan Zonder Vrees, a Burgundian duke of the early 15th Century. In this case, the leather was partially preserved.

And oh, the legend on the obverse spells "IMP ANTONINUS PIUS AUG" and on the reverse "INVICTUS SACERDOS AUG" ('the invincible priest of the emperor'). This off course relates to the religion of Elagabalus that Heliogabalus/Elagabalus introduced during his short reign.

More info (Dutch): [url:gqb3bzqn]http://tijlv.studentenweb.org/mt/archives/2006/11/muntschatten_ge.html[/url]

[Robert Vermaat]

Hi Johan,

Very good of you to call in! Yes, this hoard was pleasant news, even more so when I found out it had even been spread to Finnish radio, which I must say I had not expected at all.

I did the translation of the message and true, I left out the lightning bit. The reason for that exclusion was the speculative nature – I felt too much was made of it. Lightning strikes are extremely common, and the remains were invisible, buried as they were underground (and apparently undisturbed) – every connection that could have existed between the hoard and these remains would have needed a big leap of faith to postulate something visible above ground, now completely lost. But if such a natural phenomenon would generate an offering, I would like to see more than one present at the site before making that jump to religious cause for the burial.

Because to me, when I saw that vessel, it looked like a safe deposit box – someone’s wealth neatly tucked away in pouches, buried deep in the sand. I can’t even speculate if the person who buried it was the rightful owner or not, we only know it was never recovered. And when we look at the times suggested by the coins, it was no period of peace and stability, hoards are very common in this period.

I love this speculating about what was the cause of some event apparently so very personal, religion or danger. But there is no way to be certain.

Nevertheless, you are right to ask if any such finds are known (not to me but then I’m no expert), and I was perhaps too hasty in omitting that information.
Good for you.

[Primitivus]

The coins of Cuyk are not the town's only claim to archaeological fame. What to think of the Roman bridge? (more...)

Thanks for the link. Fascinating article.

[MARCvSVIBIvSMAvRINvS]

makes you think wether it was hidden during a thunderstorm!

but that is fantasy...... i know.....

M.VIB.M.

[Robert Vermaat]

More images:

[MARCvSVIBIvSMAvRINvS]

MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
irecognise it!!!

M.VIB.M.

[Robert Vermaat]

MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!
irecognise it!!!

OK Sir, you can have them if you can tell me the serial number of each coin!
Quickly now Sir - or I'll nick you for counterfitting Roman coins. :twisted:

[MARCvSVIBIvSMAvRINvS]

COSIII COSII COSIV

ET CETERA!

M.VIB.M.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

I thought that first wording on the reverse was some thing like that.....
wish I was an archaologist!!!!