Archaeologists have discovered an enormous medieval coin hoard in the municipality of Glottertal, Germany.
According to a press statement issued by the Stuttgart Regional Council, the hoard was unearthed during construction works while excavating a trench.
The discovery was made by Claus Völker, an employee from the State Office for Monument Preservation (LAD), who identified what appeared to be “small metal plates” on the trench floor.
Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to a be a hoard of around 1000 coins, resulting in a pause in the construction works to conduct an archaeological inspection and metal detector survey.
Due to poor weather, the trench interior turned into a knee-deep quagmire, however, the persistent researchers discovered a further 600 coins in the small window available to them.
A representative from the Stuttgart Regional Council, said: “The discovery is one of the most extensive medieval coin treasures of recent decades”.
Preliminary cleaning of the hoard has identified coins mainly dated to 1320 in Germany and Switzerland. According to the researchers, they originate from mints in Breisach, Zofingen, and Freiburg, while a few examples come from the Basel, St. Gallen, Zurich, Laufenburg and Colmar mints.
Andreas Haasis-Berner from the State Office for Monument Preservation, said: “An analysis of the coin hoard will provide valuable insights into various aspects of the region’s economic history. Specifically, it is expected to shed light on the circulation of coins in Breisgau, the activities of local mints, the silver trade, and even the mining operations in Glottertal.”
How the hoard came to be deposited in the Glottertal area is unknown. The area was home to miners who worked the silver mines on the edge of the Black Forest during the Middle Ages.
Header Image Credit : LAD
Sources : Stuttgart Regional Council
