Archaeologists Uncover Massive 3rd-Century Roman Coin Hoard in Northeastern France

During a routine rescue excavation in the town of Senon in northeastern France, archaeologists from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) uncovered an extraordinary hoard of tens of thousands of Roman bronze and copper coins dating back to the 3rd century CE. The coins were found densely packed inside three large ceramic jars buried beneath the floors of an ancient residential neighborhood approximately 2,000 years old. The first jar alone contained about 38 kilograms (83 pounds) of coins, estimated at 23,000 to 24,000 pieces, while a second jar held up to 19,000 coins, bringing the total hoard to over 40,000 coins.

The coins bear the images of emperors Victorinus, Tetricus I, and Tetricus II, rulers of the short-lived Gallic Empire, a breakaway Roman state during the 3rd century. Numismatics expert Vincent Genevieve explained that contrary to common assumptions, these were not emergency hoards hidden during times of insecurity. Evidence such as coins stuck to the jars’ outer walls suggests the jars’ openings remained at floor level, functioning as "home banks" for regular deposits and withdrawals, possibly managed by personnel from a nearby Roman fort just 150 meters away.

The excavation site revealed a rich history of the settlement, which evolved from a dense Celtic village in the mid-2nd century BCE into a prosperous Roman town after Julius Caesar’s conquest. By the late 1st century CE, it had become a well-established neighborhood of wealthy merchants and craftsmen, featuring paved streets, lime floors, and underfloor heating systems. The neighborhood was ultimately destroyed by two fires, one between 280 and 310 CE (around when the coins were buried) and another in the mid-4th century CE, leading to its abandonment and conversion to farmland.

The discovery was triggered by a local resident’s plan to expand his home, which automatically initiated a preventive archaeological dig under French law. After thorough documentation, including a 3D digital model of the 1,500-square-meter site, the coins were transferred to state ownership for conservation and detailed numismatic study. The excavation area was then fully reburied and returned to the homeowner for construction to proceed.

This find not only enriches knowledge of the Gallic Empire but also challenges previous understandings of how late Roman citizens managed their money, showing they used accessible, everyday storage methods rather than secret emergency caches.