GOLDMINE
Hundreds of 1,500-year-old Roman gold coins found stuffed inside urn and buried beneath a cinema in Italy
The coins, found by labourers during renovations in the Italian town of Como, were perfectly preserved, officials said
HUNDREDS of gold coins with an "inestimable" value have been discovered buried beneath a cinema in northern Italy.
The coins, found by labourers during renovations in the town of Como, were perfectly preserved, officials said.
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Luca Rinaldi, the local archaeology superintendent, was delighted with the find but refused to put a value on it, reported.
He said: "It’s practically an entire collection, unlike anything else ever found in northern Italy.
"Sometimes coins that are found are stuck together but these are all separate, it was like opening a wallet.
"We are talking about an exceptional discovery."
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Alberto Bonisoli, Italy's Minister of Culture, said the discovery "fills [him] with pride".
According to the paper, the coins were minted in the 5th Century AD and are being analysed at a factory in Milan.
Four years ago, a treasure hunter unearthed one of the largest hoards of late Roman gold coins found — on his first outing with a metal detector.
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The 159 “solidi” coins date from the last days of Roman rule, making them 1,600 years old. At the time they were estimated to be worth £100,000.
The novice hunter, a car salesman, had bought an entry-level metal detector and set out in woods near St Albans, Herts, where he found the stash of gold.
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