Roman and British Coin Hoard Unearthed in the Netherlands!
In the autumn of 2023, two metal detectorists, Gert-Jan Messelaar and Reinier Koelink, made an extraordinary discovery in the Dutch municipality of Bunnik. They unearthed a hoard of 404 Roman and British gold and silver coins—one of the largest collections of Roman-era currency ever found in the province of Utrecht. Even more astonishingly, this is the first known hoard on mainland Europe to contain both Roman and British coins together.
Photo Credit: National Museum of Antiquities (RMO)
An Unprecedented Find
Following the discovery, the find was reported to the Archaeology Reporting Centre of Landschap Erfgoed Utrecht, prompting the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) to conduct a full-scale investigation. Experts determined that the coins had been buried around 47 CE, shortly after the Roman conquest of Britain.
The hoard includes:
288 silver denarii dating from 200 BCE to 47 CE
72 Roman gold aurei from 19 BCE to 47 CE
44 British gold staters struck between 5 and 43 CE
Many of the British staters are inscribed with “CVNO[BELINVS],” referring to Cunobelinus, a powerful ruler in pre-Roman Britain. Some of these coins were likely minted by his successors, Togodumnus and Caratacus, following his death.
A Link to the Roman Invasion of Britain?
The presence of these coins strongly suggests a connection to Emperor Claudius' Roman invasion of Britain. The British currency may have entered circulation as spoils of war, while the Roman coins were likely used as military wages.
Two of the Roman aurei, dated to 47 CE, were found in pristine condition, showing no signs of circulation. This suggests they were part of a freshly minted batch, adding weight to the theory that the hoard once belonged to a Roman soldier returning from Britain.
Given the substantial amount of gold in the hoard, experts believe its owner may have been a centurion or a high-ranking officer rather than a common soldier. A centurion’s annual salary at the time was around 3,375 denarii, making this collection a considerable fortune.
Photo Credit: Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed
A Strategic Burial Site
Bunnik was strategically positioned along the Lower Germanic Limes—the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. Though it lacked major Roman settlements like Fort Trajectum (Utrecht) or Ulpia Noviomagus (Nijmegen), a Roman watchtower once stood nearby. The hoard was buried in a wetland area unsuitable for construction or farming, suggesting it was intentionally hidden for safekeeping or perhaps even offered to the gods in gratitude for a safe return from battle.
Preserving the Treasure
Archaeologist Anton Cruysheer analysed the coins before they were recorded in the Portable Antiquities of the Netherlands (PAN) database. They were later cleaned by specialists at the Restoration Workshop Restaura in Heerlen. Of the 404 coins discovered, 381 have been acquired by the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, where they are now on display as part of the exhibit “The Netherlands in Roman Times.”
This discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into the complex interactions between Roman soldiers and Britain, shedding new light on the movement of wealth and power during the early years of Roman rule in Britain.