Ancient Bronze Coins Discovered off the Coast of Sardinia
A remarkable discovery has been made off the coast of Sardinia, thanks to the observant eye of a diver. Tens of thousands of ancient bronze coins have been found in the waters near the northeast shore of the Mediterranean island.
The diver immediately alerted the authorities upon spotting something metallic not far from the coast. In response, divers from the art protection squad and the undersea archaeology department of Italy’s culture ministry were dispatched to investigate.
The coins, which date back to the first half of the fourth century, were found amidst sea grass. The exact date of the initial sighting has not been disclosed but it occurred near the town of Arzachena in Sardinia.
While the exact number of coins retrieved is yet to be determined, estimates suggest that there are at least 30,000 and potentially up to 50,000 coins, based on their collective weight. Remarkably, all the coins are in excellent condition, with even the few damaged ones still bearing legible inscriptions.
Luigi La Rocca, an official from the Sardinian archaeology department, hailed the discovery as one of the most significant in recent years. He emphasized the importance of this find in shedding light on the rich archaeological heritage preserved beneath our seas.
The retrieval operation involved not only divers from the art protection squad and undersea archaeology department but also firefighter divers and border police divers. The coins were primarily found in an extensive sandy area between the underwater seagrass and the beach. Given the location and shape of the seabed, it is possible that remnants of shipwrecks may also be present nearby.
The Italian culture ministry has expressed excitement about this discovery, which underscores the historical significance of Sardinia and its surrounding waters. The coins provide further evidence of the extensive trade and human activity that took place in these ancient waters.
