I was totally wrong about those 'fake' Roman coins from a field near York

A local group dug up a small hoard of about 15 coins last year, and I was sure they were modern copies because the details looked too sharp. I saw pictures online and wrote it off. Then the York Archaeological Trust got involved, did proper tests, and confirmed they're genuine 4th-century bronze coins, preserved by the specific soil conditions. The high clay content basically sealed them in a time capsule. It completely flipped my view on judging finds just from a photo. Has anyone else had a find they were certain was wrong, only to be proven totally mistaken?

3 comments

3 Comments

evan_campbell17d ago

Happens with old wiring sometimes. Looks brand new in a wall, turns out it's original knob and tube from the 30s. Perfect conditions just stop time. Makes you second guess everything.

xena27717d ago

Ever think that old wiring was always obvious? I used to assume anything that old would look burnt out or frayed... but @evan_campbell is right. Seeing something that looks perfect but is actually ancient makes you question every wall you open up now. It's kind of spooky how things can just sit there untouched for so long. Really makes you wonder what else is hiding in plain sight.

xena3739d ago

What's the weirdest thing you've found in a wall? I once pulled out a perfectly folded newspaper from 1952. It makes you realize every house is a time capsule.