Travelling with the Goths: The Hoard of Roman Coins from Veștem, Sibiu County
1 Ianuarie 2022
Cuvinte cheie:
hoard
Chernyakhiv
4th century
Goths
imitations
Roman Imperial coins
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Abstract
The hoard was discovered in late 2024 with the help of a metal detector near the village of Veștem (Șelimbăr Commune, Sibiu County). The finders initially uncovered 163 Roman imperial denarii, with an additional 41 coins recovered during the subsequent archaeological excavation carried out at the discovery site. In total, the hoard comprises 204 denarii (two of which are imitations) issued between the reigns of Vespasian and Septimius Severus. All the coins, including the latest ones, are heavily worn.
No pot or other container was found at the site, suggesting that the hoard may have been deposited in a leather or fabric pouch, or possibly in a wooden chest. Given the extremely worn condition of the coins, it is likely that the hoard was buried long after the latest coin was minted. Also, several coins were cut into two or three pieces.
We conclude that the hoard was most probably concealed in the 4th century, the coins may have been carried by the Goths from the west Ukraine. Its composition corresponds to the typical structure of hoards associated with the Chernyakhiv culture area, worn Roman coins issued between the mid-1st and late 2nd centuries, along with imitations and cut coins.
