tabbs Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 A museum in Dresden presented its latest "treasure" on Friday - more than 150 gold and silver coins found in a field near Löbsal, Saxony. Among the coins are five gold ducats, and a Prague Pfennig more than 500 years old. The oldest coin is from 1471, the most recent piece is from 1672. What is particularly interesting about this find is that the former owner is known: Among the gold and silver pieces there is also a "Taufpfennig" (baptism penny?) dated 1599. That silver medal has the name Johannes Möller, a rich cloth merchant who dealt in Leipzig and had contacts in many parts of Europe. This also explains why among the coins there are pieces from all over what today is Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. The coins were found about two months ago (on 10 January) in Löbsal, about 10 km north of Meißen. Probably Möller wanted to hide his treasure when he was 73. Maybe because he was afraid of a war, or some other conflict. The coins were in a broken ceramic vase, and relatively close (max. 40 cm) beneath the ground. The most likely explanation for that is the field used to have fruit trees, and was turned into arable land later. Agricultural machines then dug and brought the treasure further up, closer to the surface. Currently the treasure is at the State Museum of Prehistory in Dresden. The state's Archeological Heritage Service will further restore and catalog the coins, so apart from that presentation they cannot be visited. The Meißen City Museum, however, may show them in an exhibition later this year. The Taufpfennig from the late 16th century: http://www.sz-online.de/bilder/2007_03/gr_...4_486518182.jpg Silver coin from the time of Johann Georg of Saxony: http://www.sz-online.de/bilder/2007_03/gr_...7_555503897.jpg Video Report (in German): http://www.kanal8.de/MediaFrontend/7/NiF_M...hatz_020307.wmv Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 Thanks for the info. For me others can follow metal detecting in nearby area if not somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 Very interesting, nice that researchers can trace it to the owner by his baptism pfennig. I have to wonder though, if the baptism pfennig was with the rest of the coins, wasn't he at risk of spending it by accident? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 Interesting story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentin Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 Intresting! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.