A woman, out for a walk, was surprised when she discovered a buried treasure from the Middle Ages—more than 2,150 silver coins—in Kutna Hora, a town in the central Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.
Described by experts as a “once-in-a-decade discovery,” these silver coins were minted between 1085 and 1107, according to a press release translated into English by the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences (ARUP).
Experts believe these coins were manufactured in Prague and imported to Bohemia.
ARUP explained that the coins were made of “coin alloy, which, in addition to silver, also contains an admixture of copper, lead, and trace metals.”
Once experts determine the composition used in making these coins, they will also be able to identify the origins of the silver used, ARUP added.
“One of the largest finds of the last decade”
The treasure was hidden during a period of political instability in the region, archaeologist Filip Velimsky said.
These silver coins were stored in a ceramic container that was destroyed over time. However, archaeologists managed to discover the bottom of the container.
Recalling history, Velimsky explained that during that time, there were disputes in the country “between the members of the Přemysl dynasty about the princely throne of Prague.”
Noting that battles were common during this period, ARUP claimed in its release that the depot could have been cash “for paying wages or spoils of war.”
The value of these ancient coins was “unimaginable” at the time, the historian said.
“Unfortunately, for the turn of the 11th–12th century, we lack data on the purchasing power of contemporary coins… But it was a huge, unimaginable—and at the same time, unavailable—amount for an ordinary person. It can be compared to winning a million in the jackpot,” Velimsky explained.
Officials in the country have called the discovery “one of the largest finds of the last decade.”
What next?
For now, historians have started processing the coins. This includes putting them through X-rays to determine what materials these coins are made from.
There are plans to display these coins during an exhibition next year.
