Where Roman Coins Have Been Found Around The World

Map created Oxford University’s The Coin Hoards of the Roman Empire Project

The map shows where hoards of Roman Coins have been found around the world.

To date, their database has records of 6,057,413 coins in 15,201 validated hoards, and an additional 896,032 coins recorded in 2,964 unofficial hoards.

And quite frankly it’s shocking how far the coins have travelled.

For example, 4 Roman coins were found at Katsuren Castle on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Here’s what they have to say about that find:

Four nummi of the House of Constantine found during archaeological excavations at the Katsuren castle — a UNESCO world heritage site — which stood from the 12th to the 15th century AD.

Here is a summary of their work:

The Coin Hoards of the Roman Empire Project is a collaboration between the Ashmolean Museum and the Oxford Roman Economy Project, funded by the Augustus Foundation.

It aims to create a comprehensive digital database of coin hoards deposited within the Roman Empire from 30 BC to AD 518.

The project also includes coins from outside the Empire to highlight Rome’s economic and cultural influence (as seen by the map above).

Key Goals:

1. Document hoards of all coinages in use during the Roman Empire, with a focus on imperial, Iron Age, and Roman provincial coinages.
2. Provide a foundation for an Empire-wide study of coin hoarding and integrate numismatic data into broader research on the Roman economy.
3. Include hoards of Roman coins from regions beyond the Empire’s boundaries.

Definition of a Coin Hoard:

• A coin hoard is any group of coins deposited together, varying in size from large treasures to small collections.
• Votive deposits, burial finds, and single high-value gold coins are included under certain conditions, while serial votive deposits are excluded.
• Additional details, such as associated objects (e.g., jewelry, containers), are also recorded.

Project Phases:

1. Phase 1 (2013-2018):
   • Collected summary data from 12,144 hoards and single gold coins, totaling 3.5 million coins.
   • Focused on broad geographical coverage and inputting selective hoards at the coin level.
   • Some countries’ data remained incomplete due to practical constraints.
2. Phase 2 (2019-Present):
   • Expanded to include systematic recording of hoards at the individual coin level, with detailed descriptions and RIC numbers.
   • Extended to include hoards from regions outside the Empire.
   • Aims to significantly enhance the research value of the database.

Data Accessibility:

• The database is continuously updated but not yet comprehensive.
• Only validated hoard data are publicly visible, ensuring accuracy.

You can view an interactive map here with details of each coin found in each of the verified hoards.

Finally, here’s an alternative view of the map at the top of this page: