Archaeologists study a valuable treasure of old Roman coins found on the site of an ancient theater in northern Italy.
Hundreds of them date back to the end of the Roman imperial era and were found in a soapstone jar discovered in the basement of the Cressoni Theater, in Como, north of Milan.
"We do not yet know in detail the historical and cultural significance of the discovery," said the Minister of Culture, Alberto Bonisoli, in a press release. "But this area is proving to be a real treasure for our archeology, a discovery that fills me with pride."
The pieces were discovered last week, according to the Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, and were transferred to the Mibac restoration laboratory in Milan where archaeologists and restorers will examine them.
A press conference is scheduled for Monday, when more details will be announced. The department did not assign value to the coins. But reports in the Italian media suggest that they could be worth millions of dollars.
The historic theater of Cressoni opened its doors in 1807 before becoming a cinema and closing in 1997. The site is not far from the Novum Comum forum, where other important Roman remains have been discovered, according to the ministry. The discovery is one of the surprising discoveries of Roman coins in recent years.
In 2016, archaeologists unearthed an ancient 2,000-year-old Roman gold coin in Jerusalem. The coin featured the face of Nero, the Roman emperor best known for playing the violin while ancient Rome was burning, and was probably hit in 56-57 AD.
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Archaeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old Roman coin during a scientific dig in Jerusalem. The gold coin depicts the face of Emperor Nero and was probably minted in 56-57 AD. Scroll through the gallery to find unexpected treasures. Credit: UNC Charlotte
It was discovered during archaeological excavations of Mount Zion, south of the Old City of Jerusalem, where a team from the University of North Carolina and Charlotte was conducting excavations throughout the summer.
That same year, a team of archaeologists unearthed 10 ancient Roman and Ottoman pieces in the ruins of a castle in Okinawa, Japan.
