Workers laying pipes in a southern Spanish park have unearthed a 1,300lbs (600kg) trove of Roman coins in what culture officials say is a unique historic discovery.
The Seville Archaeological Museum said the workers came across 19 amphoras containing thousands of unused bronze and silver-coated coins dating from the 3rd and 4th century.
The coins are believed to have been recently minted at the time they were buried and had probably been stored to pay soldiers or civil servants.
Workers laying pipes in a southern Spanish park have unearthed a 600-kilogram (1,300lb) trove of Roman coins (pictured) in what culture officials say is a unique historic discovery
Museum director Ana Navarro said the discovery Wednesday in the southern town of Tomares outside Seville is unique for Spain and of incalculable value.
She told reporters the museum had contacted counterparts in Britain, France and Italy and that the find appeared to be one of the most important from the period.
The regional cultural department said Friday construction work in the park had been halted while archeologists investigate further.
ROMAN COIN HAUL
Spanish workers unearthed 19 jars of Roman coins dating from the 3rd and 4th century.
The silver and bronze coins are believed to have been recently minted at the time they were buried and had probably been stored to pay soldiers or civil servants.
Two key Roman emperors feature prominently on the coins, Maximian and Constantine.
Officials haven’t yet been able to put an estimate on the price for the coins, with experts saying the 600kg (1,322 lbs) of coins have an incalculable value.
The clay pots, 10 of which were said to be intact, were found just over a metre (yard) underground.
Navarro said the coins studied so far bear images of emperors Constantine and Maximian and with a variety of pictorial images on the reverse.
Maximian was born in around 250 AD and rose through the ranks of the army before served under emperor Aurelian.
He became emperor in 285 AD after being Caesar, or co-ruler, with Diocletian before being Augustus from 286 AD.
When he became Augustus, he used his full birth name of Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus.
Each emperor had his own court, army, and official residences and legal rulings and imperial celebrations took place in both emperors’ names.
Once the find (coins pictured) has been fully investigated the pieces will be put on display in the museum, the department said. The Romans began to conquer Spain in 218 BC and ruled until the 5th century
The Seville Archaeological Museum said construction workers came across 19 amphoras (selection pictured) containing thousands of unused bronze and silver-coated coins dating from the end of the 3rd century
WHO WERE MAXIMIAN AND CONSTANTINE?
The coins uncovered in Spain bear the inscriptions of two emperors, but who were they?
Maximian was the earlier of the two, as emperor of Rome from 286 to 305AD. He was adopted by Diocletian and ruled the western empire, while Diocletian took care of troubles in the north and the east.
During his life his achievements extended to restoring the great Forum in Rome, a grand plaza in the heart of the ancient city.
It is thought that he raised an army and marched through Spain in 296, to fend off North African hordes of raiders. Historical evidence suggests he may have even beat back the Moors from the southern tip of the country and the strait of Gibraltar.
The overlapping periods of the two emperors – Maximian (pictured left) and Constantine (right) marks a tempestuous time in the empire, with tales of treachery, civil war and rebellion against the empire
He died in Marseilles in 310, and historians are unclear as to whether he was murdered or committed suicide.
Constantine, meanwhile, was more far reaching in his achievements. Historians have awarded him the moniker of Constantine the Great.
His reign marked a change in the empire, reigning intermittently from 306 to 337AD. Among his achievements was establishing the ‘New Rome’ in the city of Byzantium, which was renamed to Constantinople.
He united warring sections of the empire, joining the east and west by 324AD.
Experts haven’t yet been able to estimate a value for the coins, with Spanish museum staff saying the 600kg of coins – of Maximian and Cosntantine era – have an incalculable value
As a result, the same coins were issued across the empire.
The cultural department said the museum had no similar coins in its collection.
Once the find has been fully investigated the pieces will be put on display in the museum, the department said.
The Romans began to conquer Spain in 218 BC and ruled until the 5th century.
Historical evidence suggests that Maximian raised an army and marched through Spain in 296 AD, to fend off North African hordes of raiders.
The clay pots, 10 of which were said to be intact (selection pictured), were found just over a metre underground. Museum director Ana Navarro said the coins studied so far bear images of emperors Constantine and Maximian and with a variety of pictorial images on the reverse
The coins (pictured) are believed to have been recently minted at the time they were buried and had probably been stored to pay soldiers or civil servants
His armies may have even beat back the Moors from the southern tip of the country and the strait of Gibraltar.
The other face to appear on the coins is that of emperor Constantine, who was potentially more far reaching in his achievements, earning him the title Constantine the Great.
Constantine united the warring halves of the Roman empire, he also established the ‘New Rome’ in the city of Byzantium, which was renamed to Constantinople.
Pictured are examples of coins from 294 to 295AD, from Maximian’s era, which feature the emperor’s profile
These later coins, struck circa 330AD, commemorate Constantine the Great establishing the city of Constantinople in what was teh ancient city of Byzantium
Constantine united the warring halves of the Roman empire, he also established the ‘New Rome’ in the city of Byzantium, which was renamed to Constantinople.
The overlapping of the two periods marks a tempestuous time in the empire, with tales of treachery.
After his ‘retirement’, Maximian was sent to command forces in France. But historical accounts tell how he the former emperor announced that Constantine was dead, paying off all those around him.
However, when Constantine heard of the rebellious move, he headed straight for Maximian, meeting him at Marseilles.
Here the details are hazy, with historians recording that Maximian was stripped of his titles and ‘encouraged’ to take his own life.