• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

8-year-old boy unearths 1,800-year-old Roman coin in school sandbox

by Dario Radley
August 29, 2023

An 8-year-old boy named Bjarne playing in a sandbox at his elementary school in Bremen, Germany, unearthed a silver coin minted during the Roman Empire’s Pax Romana.

8-year-old boy unearths 1,800-year-old Roman coin in school sandbox
The silver denarius was minted 1,800 years ago. Credit: Bremen Culture Department

In August 2022, young Bjarne stumbled upon a small, silver object that would turn out to be a 1,800-year-old Roman coin. This remarkable discovery was officially announced by authorities in August 2023.

Overwhelmed with excitement by his discovery, Bjarne rushed home to share the find with his family. His family contacted authorities, who subsequently confirmed the coin’s authenticity through archaeological examination. The coin was identified as a Roman denarius that was minted during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who ruled from CE 161 to 180.

The silver denarius, weighing 2.4 grams, offers information about the currency practices of the Roman Empire during a period characterized by coin deterioration due to inflation. Uta Halle, the state archaeologist, explained that this coin belonged to a time when the Roman Empire decreased the silver content in its currency.

While the coin’s discovery in Bremen, a city in northern Germany, is indeed extraordinary, it has raised questions about how it ended up in a region that was never under Roman rule. One theory suggests that it might have been acquired through trade, washed up in the nearby River Weser, or carried by travelers as a souvenir.

RelatedStories

Roman coin hoard discovered by Romanian metal detectorist is among the country’s largest

Roman coin hoard discovered by Romanian metal detectorist is among the country’s largest

May 13, 2025
Rare Roman gold coin found in Scottish Borders to be displayed

Rare Roman gold coin found in Scottish Borders to be displayed

April 3, 2025

This exceptional find earned Bjarne commendation for his “alertness and curiosity” from state archaeologists, who also plan to reward him with two archaeology books.

However, under the Bremen Monument Protection Act, such artifacts belong to the state, and thus, Bjarne will not be able to keep the coin. Instead, there are hopes that the coin will find a permanent home at the Focke Museum in Bremen, where Dr. Uta Halle, the head of the department of prehistory and early history, aims to preserve and display this unique piece of history.

This discovery is particularly special for Bremen as it marks one of the few instances when a Roman denarius has been found in the city. Bremen, unlike some parts of Germany, was not part of the Roman Empire but was inhabited by the Chauci, an ancient Germanic tribe known to have engaged in trade with the Romans. This historical context provides a potential explanation for how the coin found its way into German soil.


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Earliest use of psychoactive plant 'harmal' uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing
Archaeology

Earliest use of psychoactive plant ‘harmal’ uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

May 24, 2025
roman-massacre-myth-at-maiden-castle-1
Anthropology

New study debunks Roman massacre myth at Maiden Castle, Britain’s iconic ‘war cemetery’

May 24, 2025
18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising
Archaeology

18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising

May 23, 2025
High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine
Archaeology

High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine

May 23, 2025
Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care
Anthropology

Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care

May 22, 2025
Rare winged Roman goddess statue unearthed near Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda
Archaeology

Rare winged Roman goddess statue unearthed near Hadrian’s Wall at Vindolanda

May 22, 2025

Comments 1

  1. S. Wylie says:
    1 year ago

    It was in the sand box did anyone ask where the sand was sourced from? Maybe an area the Romans did inhabit ?

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

December 15, 2024
Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

Medieval man with crippled knee reveals disability care in Sweden

May 17, 2025
Ancient DNA confirms Picuris Pueblo’s ancestral link to Chaco Canyon

Ancient DNA confirms Picuris Pueblo’s ancestral link to Chaco Canyon

May 1, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Earliest use of psychoactive plant 'harmal' uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

Earliest use of psychoactive plant ‘harmal’ uncovered in ancient Arabia for health and healing

May 24, 2025
roman-massacre-myth-at-maiden-castle-1

New study debunks Roman massacre myth at Maiden Castle, Britain’s iconic ‘war cemetery’

May 24, 2025
18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising

18th-century brass eagle found in Polish forest may link to Kościuszko Uprising

May 23, 2025
High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine

High-tech deep ocean mission unveils never-before-seen images of lost WWI submarine

May 23, 2025
Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care

Sex workers in medieval brothel: infant burial reveals unexpected maternal care

May 22, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.