Not far from the coast of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, a diver has contributed to the discovery of tens of thousands of ancient bronze coins. He was diving in the waters near Arzachena when he saw something metallic flashing in the seaweed.
The man informed authorities, who then sent divers from the ministry’s Art Conservation and Underwater Archeology Department. They discovered that the coins date from the first half of the fourth century, the Italian Ministry of Culture announced.
It is not yet clear how many coins have been recovered as they are still being sorted. According to a ministry statement, there are at least 30,000 coins and possibly as many as 50,000 given their total weight.
“The most important coin find of recent years”
“All coins were in excellent and rare condition,” the ministry said. Even the few coins that were damaged still had legible inscriptions. “The treasure found in the waters off Arzachena is one of the most important coin discoveries in recent years,” said Luigi La Rocca, an official at the Sardinian Archaeological Authority.
La Rocca added in a statement that the find was “further proof of the wealth and importance of the archaeological heritage that the bottom of our seas, crossed by people and goods from the most ancient eras, still preserves.” Divers from the fire brigade and border police were also involved in locating and recovering the coins.
Are there shipwrecks nearby?
According to the ministry, the coins were mainly found in a wide sandy area between the underwater seaweed and the beach. Given the location and shape of the seabed, there may be remains of shipwrecks nearby, the ministry said.
Source: Krone
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