Overview
- A licensed metal‑detectorist, Oliver Riedl, discovered the hoard during an authorized search on a field near Wesseling, and he alerted the LVR office instead of digging further, allowing archaeologists to act.
- LVR archaeologists recovered the find as a block and professionally excavated a total of 934 silver denarii that together weigh about 3.1 kilograms.
- Numismatic study dated the newest coin to 124/125 AD, placing the burial in Emperor Hadrian’s reign, while many coins date to the Flavian era and the oldest was struck in 148 BC, showing long circulation.
- Dr. Erich Claßen of the LVR said the deposit is the largest known Hadrianic hoard in Germany and ranks among the five largest of its type worldwide.
- X‑rays and conservation work revealed a ceramic container and straw residues, the hoard has been fully documented for research, and the coins will be shown to the public at the LVR‑Landesmuseum Bonn.