4001 Roman Coins Rediscovered After Over 50 Years of Being Lost

The most recent donation of an orichalcum coin from the Treasure of the Garonne was received just last month. Charred pieces of wood found in the initial discovery suggest that the coins were on board a merchant ship traveling upriver from Burdigala (modern-day Bordeaux) between 170 and 176 A.D. The vessel caught fire and sank with its cargo, including thousands of orichalcum sestertii, many of which showed visible signs of alteration due to the fire.