500 Celtic gold and silver coins found in Czech Republic –

Archaeologists have discovered about 500 gold and silver coins and 80 pieces of cut gold, bronze and gold jewelry dating from the 6th to 1st centuries BC in the Pilsen region of northern Czech Republic. The exact location is being kept secret to prevent looters from arriving.

Daniel Stráník, an archaeologist at the Maria Catenis Museum, said the site of the investigation was unique, at least in Central Europe. “These gold and silver coins also include some previously unknown coinage, which may change the current perception of Celtic coinage in Bohemia. The acquired set of gold jewelry from the Hallstatt period is also unique. For example, various buckles, pins, bracelets, pendants or horse figures are all made of bronze,” Stranik describes.

The first discovery was a gold coin from the 2nd century BC, discovered by a metal detector in 2021. They handed it over to the authorities, and archaeologists subsequently conducted a follow-up investigation. Excavations have uncovered numerous objects in the surface layer of the soil, mainly small pieces of metal, including coins, gold ingots, chopped fragments, and even raw gold flakes and nuggets. This is a vast collection of artifacts found in fields that were farmed for many years and still remain today. The team had to work for four years between harvest and planting seasons to excavate the site, while keeping their activities secret to deter illegal treasure hunters.

The objects were scattered over a wide area of ​​12-16 hectares and were not gathered together in a single hoard, with a range of dates covering the late Hallstatt and Late Latean periods, but there is no evidence of permanent Celtic settlement in the area. The site may have regularly hosted seasonal commerce, and the coins were lost over the centuries. They are very small, with the largest being only 1.5 centimeters in diameter, and weighing only 0.5 grams of gold and 0.1 grams of silver. The heaviest gold coin weighs 8.5 grams.

The coins will undergo metallurgical analysis with a view to determining the origin of the gold (if the gold was mined locally or traded over long distances). The largest and most important items are kept in a safe place while they are thoroughly researched and preserved. Meanwhile, some of the unearthed artifacts have been put on display in a new dedicated exhibition at the Maria Catenis Nord Pilsen Regional Museum and Gallery. The exhibition runs until November 30.