In the autumn of 2023, two metal detectorists, Gert-Jan Messelaar and Reinier Koelink, unearthed an outstanding hoard of 404 Roman and British gold and silver coins in the Dutch municipality of Bunnik. It is one of the largest hoards of Roman antiquity ever discovered in the province of Utrecht and the first to contain both Roman and British currency on mainland Europe.

The hoard of mixed Roman and British coins. Credit: National Museum of Antiquities (RMO)

The discovery was reported to the Archaeology Reporting Center of Landschap Erfgoed Utrecht, leading to the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) to launch a full-scale investigation. The coins were confirmed to have been buried around 47 CE shortly after the Roman conquest of Britain. The hoard comprises 288 silver denarii dated between 200 BCE and 47 CE; 72 Roman gold aurei from 19 BCE to 47 CE; and 44 British gold staters struck between 5 and 43 CE. In Latin, the staters are inscribed “CVNO[BELINVS],” which refers to Cunobelinus, an important ruler in pre-Roman Britain. Some of the staters were probably issued by his successors, Togodumnus and Caratacus, after his death.

With the presence of these coins, strong speculation has arisen that they are related to the Roman invasion of Britain under Emperor Claudius. The British coins probably came into circulation as spoils of war, while the Roman currency was likely used as military pay.

Noteworthy is the hoard’s two Roman aurei struck in 47 CE. These are in pristine condition, and as they show no signs of circulation, they were probably part of a batch of newly minted coins. This adds credence to the idea that the hoard belonged to a Roman soldier returning from Britain.

The discovery of a Roman gold coin ( aureus ). Credit: Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed

Since such large quanтιтies of gold were found, the suggestion has arisen that the owner was possibly a centurion or a high-ranking officer, not an ordinary soldier. A centurion’s salary at the time was around 3,375 denarii per year, which makes this collection a considerable sum.

Bunnik, located along the Lower Germanic Limes—the northern border of the Roman Empire—was indeed an important strategic location within the first century. Though it lacked major settlements like Fort Trajectum (Utrecht) or Ulpia Noviomagus (Nijmegen), a Roman watchtower once stood in the vicinity. The context of the hoard’s burial indicates that it was located in an originally wetland area where construction or agriculture would not have been feasible; hence, the coins may have been buried purposely for safekeeping or in graтιтude to the gods for a safe return from battle.

Part of the Roman coin find in Bunnik. Credit: National Museum of Antiquities (RMO)

The coins were examined by archaeologist Anton Cruysheer before they were recorded in the Portable Antiquities of the Netherlands (PAN) database. They were subsequently cleaned by specialists at the Restoration Workshop Restaura in Heerlen. Out of the 404 coins discovered, 381 were acquired by the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden and are now on display as part of the exhibit “The Netherlands in Roman Times.”

More information: RMO