4th Century Roman Gold Coins Discovered in Northern Luxembourg

On Monday 2 December 2024, Luxembourg's Ministry of Culture, together with the National Institute of Archaeological Research (INRA), announced the discovery of Roman coins and a Roman fortified building in Parc Hosingen in northern Luxembourg.

Following surveys at Um Rank in Holzthum (Parc Hosingen), archaeological excavations were carried out from 2020 to 2024, under the aegis of the INRA. This work allowed for exploring and scientifically documenting the foundations of an imposing fortified building from the Late Roman Empire, identified by archaeologists as a "burgus" (a small tower-like fort).

During this research, an exceptional monetary find, consisting of 141 Roman coins, dating from the second half of the 4th century AD, was unearthed.

The ministry and INRA noted that the excavations were carried out "with the greatest care" and extended over several years to ensure all the buried objects were discovered. These operations also took into account the presence in the region of numerous munitions and explosive devices dating from the Second World War. As such, the archaeologists collaborated with the Luxembourg Army Mine Clearance Service (SEDAL).

The monetary treasure consists of gold solidi (ancient Roman gold coins) stamped with the effigies of nine Roman emperors who reigned between 364 and 408 AD. This is considered a major archaeological discovery. The ministry and INRA described it as "extremely rare" to be able to study an ancient monetary deposit in its entirety and in its archaeological context. Examination of the find will help experts understand the reasons that led to its burial.

In accordance with the legislation on cultural heritage, the State has compensated the beneficiaries of this find with €308,600. This value was established after an independent numismatic appraisal that took into consideration the excellent state of conservation of the solidi as well as the presence of rare samples, in particular three issues of the usurper emperor Eugenius who reigned for only two years (392-394).

With the archaeological excavations now complete, the data collected is being subjected to in-depth analyses and studies in the laboratory. The results of this work will be published in a scientific publication.