Treasure from the time of Emperor Nero found in England

A hoard of 1,368 coins, mostly silver, was found in a pot by a metal detectorist in Worcestershire, England. The hoard was buried around 55 AD, at a time when the Roman Empire under the leadership of Emperor Nero (ruled 54-68 AD) was trying to establish control over England.

His predecessor, Emperor Claudius (reigned 41-54 AD), had launched an invasion of Britain, capturing much of the territory, but the Romans still faced strong resistance during Nero's reign. This is reported by Live Science.

In 60 AD, an uprising led by Bowdicka, queen of the Iceni tribe, nearly drove Roman troops off the island. However, Rome was able to suppress the uprising.

Despite the victory over the Iceni, Nero's reign was very turbulent. He is known for ordering the murder of his own mother and wife. In 68 AD, the Praetorian Guard removed Nero from power, after which he committed suicide.

The coins buried during Nero's reign were partially minted earlier. All but one of the coins in the hoard are silver denarii, which were used as the standard currency of the Roman Empire from 157 BC to 55 AD.

The only gold coin comes from the period between 20 and 45 AD and was created for the Dobyns, a tribe that lived in Worcestershire and neighboring regions. As noted by representatives of Worcestershire Museums, the coins probably came to the region with Roman troops.

"The number of coins indicates that it was a significant amount of money at the time of burial. One theory suggests that the treasure may have belonged to a wealthy farmer who earned money by supplying grain and livestock to Roman troops," the statement said.

At the time the treasure was hidden, Worcestershire was on the border of the Roman Empire. This gives rise to speculation that the owner could have hidden the coins because of the threat of battles or conflicts in the area.

The treasure was found at the end of 2023, and a detailed analysis was conducted in 2024. At the same time, it was officially recognized as a "treasure," a status given in England to precious metal artifacts over 300 years old. The total value of the find is estimated at USD 123,100.

The Worcestershire Museum has launched a fundraising campaign to buy back the treasure.

"The campaign is going great. People are being extremely generous and it's clear that they want the treasure to stay in Worcestershire," said Helen Large, a spokesperson for Worcestershire Museums.

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