Construction workers in Spain unearthed a huge hoard of Roman coins recently. The construction workers were digging a ditch to install a new waterline in Tomares, a city in Andalusia, when they found the massive haul.
The workers found the coins, which weighed in at more than 1,300 pounds (about 590 kg), in 19 storage jars. Some of the storage containers were intact, while others had been damaged. According to the Huffington Post, the find is significant because of the number of coins and because many of the coins appear to be in mint, uncirculated condition.
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Some of the coins, which appear to be mostly bronze, were probably silver-clad at one point in time, according to Ana Navarro, head of the Archaeological Museum of Seville. Navarro estimated that the coins have a street value of several million euro, according to Huffington Post.
Archaeologists believe the coins date back to the third and fourth centuries as they bear the images of emperors Maximian and Constantine. Spanish authorities aren’t sure why there were so many new coins in one place.
According to the Washington Post, the coins may have been meant to pay soldiers or for taxes. Because of the historic nature of the find, construction on the area has been suspended until Spanish archaeologists can excavate the spot.
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