Great Discoveries: Medieval Coins Found in Germany – WorthPoint

Excavating a trench can be physically and mentally exhausting; however, it can sometimes lead to a historic discovery. Consider the medieval coins recently found during a trench excavation in Germany.

According to Arkeonews, approximately 1,600 medieval coins were discovered in the German village of Glottertal in May 2024. Local citizen Claus Völker made the initial discovery as he was laying a pipeline as part of a trench excavation.

During the excavation, Völker saw what he described as “small metal plates.” Believing the plates may have been historically significant, Völker shared his discovery with a regional office for monument preservation.

Archeologists joined Völker at the excavation site, and Völker and the archaeologists discovered about 1,000 coins.

The same day, archaeologists at the excavation site used three metal detectors to continue their investigation. They did so even though the trench became “a knee-deep quagmire due to bad weather,” Arkeonews noted.

Ultimately, the archaeologists’ persistence paid off, as they discovered an additional 600 coins at the excavation site. The medieval coin discovery now represents one of the largest in decades.

Currently, archaeologists are cleaning the coins, studying them, and learning about their origins. They pointed out that the coins originate from several mints.

In addition, these archeologists indicated that the coins may have been incredibly valuable in the 14th century. “You could have bought around 150 sheep with the coins (at the time),” one of the archeologists said.

Those who want to view more 14th-century coins can see over 300 items in the WorthPoint Price Guide.

Dan Kobialka is a self-employed content writer and editor with about a decade of experience. He produces content across a wide range of industries, including antiques, insurance, and real estate. To learn more about Dan, please visit his website.

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