When divers went underwater off the coast of Sardinia, they discovered something shiny and metallic in the water. various. The shiny objects on the ocean floor turned out to be tens of thousands of ancient Roman coins.
It is estimated that there are between 30,000 and 50,000 coins on the ocean floor, press release states. Italian Ministry of Culture is shown. “All of the collected coins are in an exceptional and rare state of preservation.”
After divers discovered the coin, authorities went underwater to investigate the scene and recover the coin. According to the ministry, during the process, they realized that there was a possibility of a shipwreck on the ocean floor due to the location and shape of the ocean floor.
The ministry said the coin was dated to the 4th century. “The recovered folis (coins) come from almost every mint in the empire active at the time, with the exception of Antioch, Alexandria, and Carthage.”
Luigi La Rocca of Sardinia’s Antiquities Authority said this in a statement. Associated Pressthe discovery of the coin is “further evidence of the richness and importance of the archaeological heritage that remains preserved and preserved on the seabed of our oceans, where humans and objects from the earliest times have crossed.” states.
Further investigation is needed to determine if there is a shipwreck on the ocean floor.
Why are coins important to archeology?
Numismatics, or the study of coins, provides a window into the ancient past in a unique way.
Much has been lost to history when it comes to the ancient Romans. “With these limitations in primary sources, it is important to use coins as evidence to gain insight into Roman economics, history, values and beliefs, and sources,” writes Fiona Marks. There is. Rhodes University
Many artifacts, such as kitchen tools and vases, can be difficult to date. The range given to these artifacts can be quite wide, but the coins are different. Coins are often associated with specific political regimes and therefore have unique dates. smithsonian magazine report.
If a coin is found at a particular soil level or with other objects, it may help determine the age of the surrounding objects. It doesn’t necessarily mean these objects have the same date, but it can provide some context.
Coins not only date, but also provide a glimpse into another side of a civilization.
According to , the type of material a coin is made of can tell you something about its value. american numismatic association. “The metal chosen must be abundant enough to be the raw material for a medium of exchange, but rare enough to be valuable in its own right.”
It’s not just the metal that matters, but the style as well. Style can give a glimpse of artistic style, but the details of an image, no matter how well-made, can be clues.
“Rather than labeling someone’s hair as being good or bad, we should explain exactly how the hair is represented, whether it’s straight or wavy, curly or strands, small or large, etc. Should. How are the eyes drawn? Is the mouth formed? How is the neck and chest truncated?” american numismatic association. “When talking about coin style, it’s not enough to just look at the image. Does the coin have a border?”
A coin has two sides, and each side often has a different style. The same goes for ancient Roman coins.
“The inscriptions show that coins with portraits are usually visual representations of the emperor, and although they are not particularly realistic, they have become widely recognized,” Marks wrote. Rhodes University. “The portrait not only shows the reigning emperor, but also his authority. The incorporation of a crown, seen on some of the coins on this page, was used as a way to indicate feats in battle.”