Saxony's oldest coin: Treasure from the Celtic period discovered!

Saxony's oldest coin: Treasure from the Celtic period discovered!

What's new from Saxony? An exciting find is causing quite a stir: archaeologists have discovered the oldest known piece of money in Saxony. It is a two-gram gold quarterstater that is estimated to be around 2,200 years old. This treasure not only shows the craftsmanship of the Celts, but also proves that Saxony maintained close contact with Celtic tribes. On the face of the coin you can see a stylized head, possibly modeled on an animal, perhaps a deer. The back, however, illustrates an open neck ring with thickened ends as well as a star with rounded corners and a ball. These fascinating details pique the interest of researchers and history lovers alike. Loud Herder The find shows that Celtic coins are extremely rare in Saxony.

State archaeologist Regina Smolnik explains that the coin could have served as a status symbol or store of value for an upper class. Before this gold discovery was discovered, only one silver coin, a tufted quinar, was known to be the oldest coin in Saxony, which was found in Zauschwitz in 2007. The new gold find now represents significant evidence of older coin objects in the region. The discovery of the so-called “rainbow bowl” in Gundorf is particularly noteworthy because it is linked to the superstition that treasure is hidden at the point where the rainbow touches the earth. Traditionally, such coins were often found in fields after heavy rainfall.

A discovery with history

The discovery is not the only important find in Saxony. During intensive field inspections in the region, a total of nine additional coins were brought to light, including another undecorated gold object with a similar curvature to the rainbow bowl. Before this find, there were only two known Celtic coin finds in Saxony, one of which is considered lost. The new find is now a real source of luck for Saxony.

The coins, which so far come from the Celtic settlement area of ​​northern Bohemia and date back to the 3rd century BC. Dating back to around 2000 BC, they impressively demonstrate the connection between Saxony and the Celtic settlements. Other finds include a Celtic silver coin of the “tuft type” that was minted in the early 1st century BC. was minted in southern Germany. This coin is the first confirmed find of its kind in Saxony.

The significance of the coin finds

The finds are a valuable contribution to the Celtic history of Saxony and show that it was not just an isolated area, but that there were lively contacts and trade relationships. These finds also help to further sharpen the picture of Celtic history in Saxony and the surrounding area. Such discoveries give archeology work in this region a new perspective, which will certainly provide many interesting insights in the coming years.

With such a historical find in hand, there is a good chance that Saxony will soon become known not only for its beautiful landscapes, but also for its valuable historical treasures. Efforts to explore the region's archaeological treasures will certainly continue, and we can't wait to see what the next few months bring. Who knows, maybe there will soon be another rainbow bowl in Saxony!