The Trier Gold Hoard is a hoard of 2516 gold coins with a weight of 18.5 kg, found in Trier, Germany, in September 1993 during construction works, nearly 1800 years after it was hidden. It is described as the largest preserved Roman gold hoard worldwide.
Greater inspection revealed that it was not simply someone’s personal fortune but most likely an official treasury.
The treasury had been carefully administered and had grown over time. The Hoard equated to the annual salary of around 130 Roman soldiers.
The aurei (gold coins) feature a total of 27 emperors, empresses and members of the imperial family, and some are still considered unique to this day. The gold coins were buried in a cellar during a civil war in 196 AD.
The largest Roman gold hoard ever discovered was the “Trier Gold Hoard.” This remarkable find, consisting of 2,500 gold pieces totaling 18.5 kg, was uncovered in 1993 during excavation work, approximately 1,800 years after it was hidden. The 1993 discovery of the Trier Gold Hoard generated significant media attention. Further investigation indicated that it was likely an official treasury and not just someone’s personal money.
The treasury had been managed with care and had expanded over time. The hoard was equivalent to about 130 Roman soldiers’ yearly pay. A total of 27 emperors, empresses, and members of the imperial family are depicted on the aurei (gold coins), some of which are still regarded as unique today.
During a civil war in 196 AD, the gold coins were buried in a cellar. When Clodius Albinus named his son Caracalla as the heir apparent instead of Albinus, Septimius Severus’ rule was threatened. It is likely that the knowledge of the hidden cache was taken to the grave by the person responsible for managing the hoard.
Currently, this unique collection is on display in the coin collection at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier. The state museum, one of Germany’s largest archaeological museums, has an exhibition that features 12,000 coins in total. The Gold Hoard presentation room provides significant information on the development of the monetary system and the production of ancient, medieval, and modern money in addition to showcasing archaeological discoveries.
