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Journey to the Past: Rediscovering a Roman Coin Trove Dating Back to the 3rd Century AD in Marseille

W????????k????????s l????????in???? ????i????????s in ???? s????????th????????n S????????nish ????????????k h????v???? ????n????????????th???????? ???? 1,300l????s (600k????) t????????v???? ???????? R????m????n c????ins in wh????t c????lt???????????? ????????????ici????ls s???????? is ???? ????ni???????????? hist????????ic ????isc????v????????????.

Th???? S????vill???? A????ch????????????l????????ic????l M????s????????m s????i???? th???? w????????k????????s c????m???? ????c????????ss 19 ????m????h????????????s c????nt????inin???? th????????s????n????s ???????? ????n????s???????? ????????????nz???? ????n???? silv????????-c????????t???????? c????ins ????????tin???? ????????????m th???? 3???????? ????n???? 4th c????nt????????????.

Th???? c????ins ???????????? ????????li????v???????? t???? h????v???? ????????????n ????????c????ntl???? mint???????? ????t th???? tim???? th???????? w???????????? ????????????i???????? ????n???? h???????? ????????????????????????l???? ????????????n st???????????????? t???? ???????????? s????l????i????????s ???????? civil s????????v????nts.

W????????k????????s l????????in???? ????i????????s in ???? s????????th????????n S????????nish ????????????k h????v???? ????n????????????th???????? ???? 600-kil????????????????m (1,300l????) t????????v???? ???????? R????m????n c????ins (????ict????????????????) in wh????t c????lt???????????? ????????????ici????ls s???????? is ???? ????ni???????????? hist????????ic ????isc????v????????????

M????s????????m ????i????????ct???????? An???? N????v???????????????? s????i???? th???? ????isc????v???????????? W????????n????s???????????? in th???? s????????th????????n t????wn ???????? T????m????????????s ????????tsi???????? S????vill???? is ????ni???????????? ???????????? S????????in ????n???? ???????? inc????lc????l????????l???? v????l????????.



Sh???? t????l???? ????????????????????t????????s th???? m????s????????m h???????? c????nt????ct???????? c????????nt????????????????????ts in B????it????in, F????????nc???? ????n???? It????l???? ????n???? th????t th???? ????in???? ???????????????????????????????? t???? ???????? ????n???? ???????? th???? m????st im????????????t????nt ????????????m th???? ????????????i????????.

Th???? ????????????i????n????l c????lt????????????l ????????????????????tm????nt s????i???? F????i???????????? c????nst????????cti????n w????????k in th???? ????????????k h???????? ????????????n h????lt???????? whil???? ????????ch????????l????????ists inv????sti????????t???? ????????????th????????.

S????????nish w????????k????????s ????n????????????th???????? 19 j????????s ???????? R????m????n c????ins ????????tin???? ????????????m th???? 3???????? ????n???? 4th c????nt????????????.

Th???? silv???????? ????n???? ????????????nz???? c????ins ???????????? ????????li????v???????? t???? h????v???? ????????????n ????????c????ntl???? mint???????? ????t th???? tim???? th???????? w???????????? ????????????i???????? ????n???? h???????? ????????????????????????l???? ????????????n st???????????????? t???? ???????????? s????l????i????????s ???????? civil s????????v????nts.

Tw???? k???????? R????m????n ????m????????????????????s ????????????t???????????? ????????????min????ntl???? ????n th???? c????ins, M????ximi????n ????n???? C????nst????ntin????.

O????????ici????ls h????v????n’t ????????t ????????????n ????????l???? t???? ????????t ????n ????stim????t???? ????n th???? ????????ic???? ???????????? th???? c????ins, with ????x????????????ts s????????in???? th???? 600k???? (1,322 l????s) ???????? c????ins h????v???? ????n inc????lc????l????????l???? v????l????????.



Th???? cl???????? ????????ts, 10 ???????? which w???????????? s????i???? t???? ???????? int????ct, w???????????? ????????????n???? j????st ????v???????? ???? m????t???????? (????????????????) ????n????????????????????????????n????.

N????v???????????????? s????i???? th???? c????ins st????????i???????? s???? ???????????? ???????????????? im????????????s ???????? ????m????????????????????s C????nst????ntin???? ????n???? M????ximi????n ????n???? with ???? v????????i????t???? ???????? ????ict????????i????l im????????????s ????n th???? ????????v????????s????.

M????ximi????n w????s ????????????n in ????????????????n???? 250 AD ????n???? ????????s???? th????????????????h th???? ????????nks ???????? th???? ????????m???? ???????????????????????? s????????v???????? ????n???????????? ????m???????????????????? A????????????li????n.

H???? ????????c????m???? ????m???????????????????? in 285 AD ????????t???????? ????????in???? C????????s????????, ???????? c????-????????l????????, with Di????cl????ti????n ???????????????????????? ????????in???? A????????????st????s ????????????m 286 AD.

Wh????n h???? ????????c????m???? A????????????st????s, h???? ????s???????? his ????????ll ????i????th n????m???? ???????? M????????c????s A????????????li????s V????l????????i????s M????ximi????n????s.

E????ch ????m???????????????????? h???????? his ????wn c????????????t, ????????m????, ????n???? ????????????ici????l ????????si????????nc????s ????n???? l????????????l ????????lin????s ????n???? im????????????i????l c????l????????????????ti????ns t????????k ????l????c???? in ????????th ????m????????????????????s’ n????m????s.



+10 Vi????w ????????ll????????????

Onc???? th???? ????in???? (c????ins ????ict????????????????) h????s ????????????n ????????ll???? inv????sti????????t???????? th???? ????i????c????s will ???????? ????????t ????n ????is????l???????? in th???? m????s????????m, th???? ????????????????????tm????nt s????i????. Th???? R????m????ns ????????????????n t???? c????n???????????????? S????????in in 218 BC ????n???? ????????l???????? ????ntil th???? 5th c????nt????????????

Th???? S????vill???? A????ch????????????l????????ic????l M????s????????m s????i???? c????nst????????cti????n w????????k????????s c????m???? ????c????????ss 19 ????m????h????????????s (s????l????cti????n ????ict????????????????) c????nt????inin???? th????????s????n????s ???????? ????n????s???????? ????????????nz???? ????n???? silv????????-c????????t???????? c????ins ????????tin???? ????????????m th???? ????n???? ???????? th???? 3???????? c????nt????????????

Th???? c????ins ????nc????v???????????????? in S????????in ???????????????? th???? insc????i????ti????ns ???????? tw???? ????m????????????????????s, ????????t wh???? w???????????? th?????????

M????ximi????n w????s th???? ????????????li???????? ???????? th???? tw????, ????s ????m???????????????????? ???????? R????m???? ????????????m 286 t???? 305AD. H???? w????s ????????????????t???????? ???????? Di????cl????ti????n ????n???? ????????l???????? th???? w????st????????n ????m????i????????, whil???? Di????cl????ti????n t????????k c???????????? ???????? t????????????????l????s in th???? n????????th ????n???? th???? ????????st.



D????????in???? his li???????? his ????chi????v????m????nts ????xt????n???????????? t???? ????????st????????in???? th???? ????????????????t F????????????m in R????m????, ???? ????????????n???? ????l????z???? in th???? h????????????t ???????? th???? ????nci????nt cit????.

It is th????????????ht th????t h???? ????????is???????? ????n ????????m???? ????n???? m????????ch???????? th????????????????h S????????in in 296, t???? ????????n???? ???????????? N????????th A????????ic????n h????????????????s ???????? ????????i????????????s. Hist????????ic????l ????vi????????nc???? s????????????????sts h???? m???????? h????v???? ????v????n ????????????t ????????ck th???? M????????????s ????????????m th???? s????????th????????n ti???? ???????? th???? c????????nt???????? ????n???? th???? st????????it ???????? Gi????????????lt????????.

Th???? ????v????????l????????????in???? ????????????i????????s ???????? th???? tw???? ????m????????????????????s – M????ximi????n (????ict???????????????? l????????t) ????n???? C????nst????ntin???? (????i????ht) m????????ks ???? t????m????????st????????????s tim???? in th???? ????m????i????????, with t????l????s ???????? t????????????ch????????????, civil w???????? ????n???? ????????????????lli????n ????????????inst th???? ????m????i????????

H???? ????i???????? in M????????s????ill????s in 310, ????n???? hist????????i????ns ???????????? ????ncl???????????? ????s t???? wh????th???????? h???? w????s m???????????????????????????? ???????? c????mmitt???????? s????ici????????.



C????nst????ntin????, m????????nwhil????, w????s m???????????? ???????????? ????????????chin???? in his ????chi????v????m????nts. Hist????????i????ns h????v???? ????w???????????????????? him th???? m????nik???????? ???????? C????nst????ntin???? th???? G????????????t.

His ????????i????n m????????k???????? ???? ch????n???????? in th???? ????m????i????????, ????????i????nin???? int????????mitt????ntl???? ????????????m 306 t???? 337AD. Am????n???? his ????chi????v????m????nts w????s ????st????????lishin???? th???? ‘N????w R????m????’ in th???? cit???? ???????? B????z????nti????m, which w????s ????????n????m???????? t???? C????nst????ntin????????l????.

H???? ????nit???????? w????????????in???? s????cti????ns ???????? th???? ????m????i????????, j????inin???? th???? ????????st ????n???? w????st ???????? 324AD.

Ex????????????ts h????v????n’t ????????t ????????????n ????????l???? t???? ????stim????t???? ???? v????l???????? ???????????? th???? c????ins, with S????????nish m????s????????m st???????????? s????????in???? th???? 600k???? ???????? c????ins – ???????? M????ximi????n ????n???? C????snt????ntin???? ???????????? – h????v???? ????n inc????lc????l????????l???? v????l????????

As ???? ????????s????lt, th???? s????m???? c????ins w???????????? iss???????????? ????c????????ss th???? ????m????i????????.

Th???? c????lt????????????l ????????????????????tm????nt s????i???? th???? m????s????????m h???????? n???? simil???????? c????ins in its c????ll????cti????n.



Onc???? th???? ????in???? h????s ????????????n ????????ll???? inv????sti????????t???????? th???? ????i????c????s will ???????? ????????t ????n ????is????l???????? in th???? m????s????????m, th???? ????????????????????tm????nt s????i????.

Th???? R????m????ns ????????????????n t???? c????n???????????????? S????????in in 218 BC ????n???? ????????l???????? ????ntil th???? 5th c????nt????????????.

Hist????????ic????l ????vi????????nc???? s????????????????sts th????t M????ximi????n ????????is???????? ????n ????????m???? ????n???? m????????ch???????? th????????????????h S????????in in 296 AD, t???? ????????n???? ???????????? N????????th A????????ic????n h????????????????s ???????? ????????i????????????s.

Th???? cl???????? ????????ts, 10 ???????? which w???????????? s????i???? t???? ???????? int????ct (s????l????cti????n ????ict????????????????), w???????????? ????????????n???? j????st ????v???????? ???? m????t???????? ????n????????????????????????????n????. M????s????????m ????i????????ct???????? An???? N????v???????????????? s????i???? th???? c????ins st????????i???????? s???? ???????????? ???????????????? im????????????s ???????? ????m????????????????????s C????nst????ntin???? ????n???? M????ximi????n ????n???? with ???? v????????i????t???? ???????? ????ict????????i????l im????????????s ????n th???? ????????v????????s????

Th???? c????ins (????ict????????????????) ???????????? ????????li????v???????? t???? h????v???? ????????????n ????????c????ntl???? mint???????? ????t th???? tim???? th???????? w???????????? ????????????i???????? ????n???? h???????? ????????????????????????l???? ????????????n st???????????????? t???? ???????????? s????l????i????????s ???????? civil s????????v????nts



His ????????mi????s m???????? h????v???? ????v????n ????????????t ????????ck th???? M????????????s ????????????m th???? s????????th????????n ti???? ???????? th???? c????????nt???????? ????n???? th???? st????????it ???????? Gi????????????lt????????.

Th???? ????th???????? ????????c???? t???? ???????????????????????? ????n th???? c????ins is th????t ???????? ????m???????????????????? C????nst????ntin????, wh???? w????s ????????t????nti????ll???? m???????????? ???????????? ????????????chin???? in his ????chi????v????m????nts, ????????????nin???? him th???? titl???? C????nst????ntin???? th???? G????????????t.

C????nst????ntin???? ????nit???????? th???? w????????????in???? h????lv????s ???????? th???? R????m????n ????m????i????????, h???? ????ls???? ????st????????lish???????? th???? ‘N????w R????m????’ in th???? cit???? ???????? B????z????nti????m, which w????s ????????n????m???????? t???? C????nst????ntin????????l????.

Pict???????????????? ???????????? ????x????m????l????s ???????? c????ins ????????????m 294 t???? 295AD, ????????????m M????ximi????n’s ????????????, which ????????????t???????????? th???? ????m????????????????????’s ????????????????il????

Th????s???? l????t???????? c????ins, st????????ck ci????c???? 330AD, c????mm????m????????????t???? C????nst????ntin???? th???? G????????????t ????st????????lishin???? th???? cit???? ???????? C????nst????ntin????????l???? in wh????t w????s t????h ????nci????nt cit???? ???????? B????z????nti????m

Th???? ????v????????l????????????in???? ???????? th???? tw???? ????????????i????????s m????????ks ???? t????m????????st????????????s tim???? in th???? ????m????i????????, with t????l????s ???????? t????????????ch????????????.



A????t???????? his ‘????????ti????????m????nt’, M????ximi????n w????s s????nt t???? c????mm????n???? ????????????c????s in F????????nc????. B????t hist????????ic????l ????cc????????nts t????ll h????w h???? th???? ????????????m???????? ????m???????????????????? ????nn????????nc???????? th????t C????nst????ntin???? w????s ????????????????, ????????????in???? ???????????? ????ll th????s???? ????????????????n???? him.

H????w????v????????, wh????n C????nst????ntin???? h???????????????? ???????? th???? ????????????????lli????????s m????v????, h???? h???????????????????? st????????i????ht ???????????? M????ximi????n, m????????tin???? him ????t M????????s????ill????s.

H???????????? th???? ????????t????ils ???????????? h????z????, with hist????????i????ns ????????c????????????in???? th????t M????ximi????n w????s st????i???????????????? ???????? his titl????s ????n???? ‘????nc????????????????????????????’ t???? t????k???? his ????wn li????????.

M????ximi????n w????s ????????????n???? h????n???????????? in M????????s????ill????s.