A clatter of coins and gems found at Claterna.

Archaeologists in Italy have unearthed more than 3,000 coins and 50 gems, many of which were emblazoned with the images of ancient Roman deities.

The massive finding was made during ongoing excavations at Claterna (also spelled Claternae), a Roman town located near modern-day Bologna, according to a translated statement from the Italian Ministry of Culture.

"We are facing the largest non-stratified archaeological area in Northern Italy," Lucia Borgonzoni, the Italian undersecretary of state to the Ministry of Culture, said in the statement. "Given the importance and quantity of finds brought to light so far, we can probably speak of a Pompeii of the north."

Previously, archaeologists at Claterna had found a forum, streets, a dwelling with multicolored mosaics and Roman baths. The latest excavations at this "magical place" unearthed thousands of coins, which were mainly cast of silver and bronze, according to the statement. While sifting through the currency, the researchers found one that was particularly notable: a quinarius, a rare silver coin minted in 97 B.C. by the Roman Republic. Archaeologists spotted it hidden in the remains of a corridor in a former theater.



Two gems engraved with deities.



Two of the gems discovered at the ancient Roman site. (Image credit: Roberto Macri/Soprintendenza Bologna)

The coin not only helped them confirm that the structure was built sometime near the end of the first century B.C. but also that Claterna was likely a "center of commerce" for ancient Romans and not simply a pilgrimage site, according to the statement.

"It was a trading center with direct contacts with Rome," Borgonzoni said.

Archaeologists also unearthed dozens of colored gems engraved with the likenesses of various deities and important structures, including the same theater.

https://www.livescience.com/archaeo...-unearthed-at-magical-place-in-northern-italy
 
The gems resemble those lost in Roman baths, having fallen from rings.
 
One of the rabbit holes I fell down recently on the internet was 'How long did Roman coins stay in circulation ?'. One of the Thermopoliums (hot food outlet) discovered at Pompeii had a bowl containing thousands of bronze coins on the front counter, representing several days of trading. It is known when the last payment was made (79 AD) so it was just a matter of looking for the oldest coins in the hoard. Unsurprisingly the bulk was made up of Flavian era coins (1-10 years), but there were a significant number of Julian-Claudian coins (11-106 years old), 2% were Republican coins (~150 years old) and one outlier Greek coin of Ptolemy II (~350 years old).
The longevity of silver and gold Roman coins was different to the everyday base metal coins for several reasons (different rabbit holes). The uniqueness of Pompeii is we know the exact date it was buried and lost, unlike Roman treasure hoards and the odd coin I dig up.
There is a Youtube video for those interested in numismatism, Pompeii bit is around 4 mins in.

 
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