The remarkable treasure of gold coins from the waning days of the Western Roman Empire, discovered beneath an old theater in Como in 2018, has proven to be even more extraordinary than initially thought.
This find, from its lidded soapstone pot to the meticulously stacked, pristine 5th-century coins, was instantly recognized as a discovery of unparalleled historical significance.
When the discovery was first announced in September 2018, archaeologists had carefully removed the vessel for detailed examination in lab conditions. They initially uncovered 27 gold coins from the reigns of Emperors Honorius (r. 384–423), Valentinian III (r. 425–455), Leo I (r. 457–474), and his brief co-emperor Libius Severus (r. 461–465), estimating the hoard to contain around 300 coins.
In addition, they discovered a gold ingot and two as-yet-unidentified objects, with hopes of more surprises within the densely packed amphora.
Now, after painstakingly extracting the coins one by one, archaeologists have reached a final count: an astonishing 1,000 gold coins, exactly.
Such precise tallying suggests a professional hand—perhaps a skilled accountant, government official, or imperial goldsmith. The majority of the coins—639 in all—were minted in Mediolanum (modern-day Milan), then the capital of the Western Empire, between 395 and 472 A.D. Representing eight emperors and four empresses, 744 of these coins were minted after 455, right up to the empire’s last decades before its fall in 476.
In addition to the coins, the hoard includes raw materials and exquisite examples of fine goldsmithing. There are three large gold rings, likely men’s rings: one octagonal, one set with a high-quality cabochon garnet, and another featuring an intricate basket weave and filigree pattern. The collection also holds three earrings (a pair and an unfinished single earring), an ingot, a gold bar, and delicate gold threads. The ingot, alloyed with silver for added durability, bears signs of being cut and used in crafting precious items.
In total, this treasure represents 11 pounds of gold—an unimaginable fortune, especially in a period when the empire’s economy was deteriorating. Curiously, it was stored in an ordinary, unassuming green soapstone jug, similar to a beer stein, likely made locally. The jug even shows char marks, hinting at its use in cooking. Pliny the Elder noted that soapstone vessels were commonly produced in the Como area (Natural History, Book 37, Chapter 44), a tradition that continues there to this day.
