Amateur Diver Finds Ancient Gold Coins in the Mediterranean While Cleaning Up Marine Garbage
Along the Spanish voyage, two novice divers came across a large pile of ancient coins believed to be from the Roman Empire.
Luis Lens Pardo and Cesar Gimeno Alcala discovered the gold deposit while on vacation with their family in the Mediterranean coastal city of Xabia, Spain.
The two of them set off free-diving with the aim of cleaning up marine debris. However, they did not expect that they actually found ancient gold coins at the bottom of Portitxol Bay.
The pair of divers then returned to the discovery site with knives and used them to dig up eight more coins, as quoted by Nine News, Thursday (30/09/2021).
Luis told local newspaper El Pais that after cleaning one coin he saw ancient images, such as Greek or Roman faces. Luis and Cesar then reported their findings to the authorities.
Archaeologists from the University of Alicante's department of the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Soler Blasco and the Special Underwater Brigade of the Spanish Civilian Guard along with the Xabia City Council banded together to excavate and examine the treasure.
Concealed During the Power Scramble
With the help of archaeologists at least 53 coins were found, each of which weighed about 4.5 grams. The coins are truly ancient, they are thought to date back to AD 364 and 408 during the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
Archaeologists daftar togel online were able to read the inscriptions and identify the Roman emperors engraved on the coins. Some of the emperors on the coin include Valentinian I, Valentinian II, Arcadius and Honorius, according to the University of Alicante.
Apart from coins, lead remains from sea chests may also be found.
Professor Jaime Molina Vidal from the University of Alicante, said the collection was one of the largest in Europe and could provide information about the last stages of the Western Roman Empire.
Archaeologists say the coins may have been hidden during the violent power struggles of the Western Roman Empire's final moments.
"The discovery speaks to us about the context of fear, the coming world of the Roman Empire," added Professor Jaime.