Two Roman Empire silver coins were found on a secluded Baltic Sea island halfway between Sweden and Estonia, baffling archeologists who were nonetheless pleased with the discovery.
There is no evidence as to how the coins got there, although the press release suggested some theories of their origin that the Roman coins may have been abandoned by Norse traders, or perhaps got lost in a shipwreck, or was delivered there by a Roman ship sailing to the far north.
Nearly 2,000-Year-old Roman Coins on Baltic Sea Island
Södertörn University, in collaboration with Campus Gotland and the Gotland Museum, is conducting an archaeological project on Gotska Sandön, a national park island.
In March 2023, two special Roman silver coins were discovered by the team, led by Johan Rönnby, using metal detectors at a beach site marked by old fireplaces on the island. The two Roman denarii from the time of Trajan (between A.D. 98 and 117) and Antoninus Pius (between A.D. 138 and 161) raised questions and interest in continuing to excavate the site.
Rönnby expressed his excitement about the finds, telling Live Science that they make the site even more intriguing and that the team did not know what it was before finding the coins. The archaeological project has been ongoing since 2020, and the discovery of these coins in 2023 marks a significant event for the team.
Each of the Roman denarii weighed less than four grams and was worth about a day's wage for a laborer. Due to their silver content, these coins may have continued to be in use for a long time and could have been brought to Gotska Sandön by Norse traders who took refuge from storms at sea or survivors of shipwrecks.
While it is possible that the Romans themselves brought the coins to the island, no records of such a voyage in the Baltic exist, although it is known that Romans sailed as far as Scotland and wrote about the Baltic area.
The location of the coins on Gotska Sandön raises multiple possibilities for their arrival there. Despite the dangerous waters surrounding the island causing many shipwrecks and the likelihood of Norse traders stopping there, it is uncertain who specifically brought the coins.
While the Romans were known to travel to certain regions in the North, a Roman ship is an unlikely source of the coins. Regardless of their origin, these coins provide insight into the trade and circulation of currency during ancient Rome's existence.
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New Findings Echo 19th-century Claims of Finding Roman Coins on the Island
Ancient Pages reported that the County Administrative Board of Gotland officer Daniel Langhammer that the findings echoed claims of lighthouse keeper Hjalmar Söderberg of finding Roman coins on the island in the 19th century, which was met with skepticism.
Langhammer told Live Science that while Roman silver coin finds are not uncommon on Gotland, they are unusual on Gotska Sandön, making the discovery both significant and interesting due to its location.
He noted that the origin of the coins may remain a mystery forever because experts simply do not have an understanding of the source of the coins. Additionally, the isolated island was previously visited by seal hunters, as well as fishermen who came during the summertime.
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