Hundreds of 4th–5th Century Roman Gold Coins Discovered in Como, Italy

During renovations of Teatro Cressoni in Como, workers unearthed an amphora filled with 300+ Roman gold coins dating to the 4th–5th century AD, featuring emperors such as Honorius, Valentinian III, Leo I, Antoninus, and Libus Severus. The exceptional find, along with a gold bar, may have belonged to a wealthy bank or individual hiding treasure during Germanic invasions.
Key Facts:
Coins are 4g of pure gold each, stacked neatly in an amphora; first 27 were examined in Milan before proper archaeological processing.
Discovery offers historical insight into Roman emperors’ likenesses and the turbulent era leading up to 474 AD.
Teatro Cressoni, built in 1870 and abandoned in 1997, was being converted into apartments when the find occurred.
The amphora and coins will likely be displayed at Paolo Giovio Archaeological Museum in Como after study.
Como, originally Novum Comum, was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BC and thrived as a Roman settlement for 600+ years.
Expert Insight:
This is one of the most complete Roman coin collections ever found in northern Italy, giving scholars a rare look at monetary circulation, wealth storage, and local history in late Roman times.