Amateur archaeologist finds Germany's largest Roman silver coin hoard
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Neutral summary
An amateur archaeologist, Oliver Riedl, has discovered Germany's largest hoard of Roman silver coins near Wesseling, south of Cologne. The hoard consists of 934 denarii minted between 148 BC and AD 124, weighing more than three kilograms. Riedl, who has official permission to use a metal detector, found the coins in autumn 2025 when his device kept signaling. He contacted professional archaeologists, who excavated the site and recovered all the coins. According to the local archaeological monuments office, it is the largest coin hoard from the reign of Emperor Hadrian ever found in Germany, and the fifth-largest Roman hoard ever recorded. The coins were likely deliberately buried in the second quarter of the second century AD. Riedl will receive a reward for his discovery. German media, including Die Welt and Spektrum, describe the hoard as one of the most significant archaeological finds in the country in recent years.
How it was framed
Outlets: 12. Countries: 7. Facts in the shared core: 9.
Publication timeline
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Die Welt (outlet profile)
Wer im reichen Rheinland versteckte diesen Silberschatz?. Gleich 934 römische Denare fand ein privater Sondengänger im Herbst 2025 bei Wesseling. Er verhielt sich vorbildlich und rief professionelle Archäologen. Nun ist…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Amateur archaeologist finds Germany’s biggest hoard of ancient Roman silver coins. An amateur archaeologist has discovered a significant hoard of Roman silver coins in western Germany
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Spektrum (outlet profile)
Bei Köln: Mann entdeckt riesigen Münzschatz aus der Römerzeit. Mit Metalldetektor und Genehmigung unterwegs, stieß ein Mann südlich von Köln auf einen wahren Schatz: mehr als 930 römische Silbermünzen. Einst war das ein…
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The Guardian (outlet profile)
Amateur archaeologist finds 934 Roman silver denarii in German field. The hoard, buried south of Cologne in the second century AD, is the biggest coin treasure ever found in Germany from the time of Hadrian An amateur a…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Record Roman coin haul discovered in Germany
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CBS News (outlet profile)
Metal detectorist finds record-breaking trove of ancient Roman coins. A man who discovered Roman silver coins in a field realized he had stumbled upon something bigger when his metal detector kept signaling.
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DW (Deutsche Welle) (outlet profile)
Amateur archeologist unearths Germany's largest trove of Roman coins. What began as a routine search in a field near Wesseling led to the discovery of nearly 1,000 Roman silver coins, one of the most significant archaeo…
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Mondo (outlet profile)
Pronašao bogatstvo na njivi pored Kelna: Arheolog amater iskopao rimske srebrnjake teške preko 3 kilograma
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УНИАН (outlet profile)
Металлоискатель не переставал подавать сигналы: мужчина нашел клад из 934 римских монет. Коллекция монет, скорее всего, была намеренно закопана во второй четверти II века нашей эры.
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Deutsche Welle (outlet profile)
Крупнейший клад монет времен Адриана найден близ Весселинга. Немцы любят искать сокровища, и некоторым везет. Кладоискатель-любитель обнаружил на обычном поле под Кельном самый большой в истории Германии клад монет римс…
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La Vanguardia (outlet profile)
Un arqueólogo aficionado halla el mayor tesoro de monedas de plata romanas de Alemania. En medio de un campo al sur de Colonia se descubrieron hasta 934 denarios del siglo II d.C.
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UOL (outlet profile)
Homem encontra tesouro de moedas romanas na Alemanha. omem encontra tesouro de moedas romanas na Alemanha - Quase mil denários da época do imperador Adriano são encontrados perto de Colônia por um arqueólogo amador. Ess…
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G1 (outlet profile)
Homem encontra tesouro de moedas romanas do século II na Alemanha. O tesouro é composto por 934 moedas romanas de prata, também conhecidas como denários, cunhadas entre 148 a.C. e o ano 124. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa/picture…
Factual core
- The hoard is the biggest coin treasure ever found in Germany from the time of the Roman emperor Hadrian.
- An amateur archaeologist discovered a hoard of ancient Roman silver coins in western Germany.
- The discovery was made by an amateur, not a professional archaeologist.
- The coins are made of silver and date from the Roman era.
- The coin collection was likely deliberately buried in the second quarter of the 2nd century AD.
- The discovery was made in an ordinary field near Cologne.
- The detectorist's metal detector kept signaling, indicating the presence of many coins.
- The hoard weighs more than 3 kilograms of silver.
- The hoard consists of up to 934 denarii from the 2nd century AD.