Article in French: http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2017...exception-grace-a-son-detecteur-de-metaux.php My French is poor but hoard of Gallienus and Claudius Gothicus found five years ago but only announced now after researching the find. Local coins found alongside the Romans. Oddly the article is illustrated with a Tribute Penny!
Thanks Nerva for the link Appart from the fact that a hoard has been dug up, the article isn't very interesting, the journalist involved obviously doesn't know anything about coins. He writes general statements and platitudes. Most probably he found a picture of a coin and thought "it's Okay, an ancient coin is an ancient coin, nobody cares" Anyway, that was probably a nice find and a good day for the detectorist Q
Yes, it's frustrating! Often with articles like this the journalists do some diligent research and talk to experts, but then the sub-editors dumb it down.
The google translation of the article has this: "No one else will know of this treasure until it is clearly identified. For three long years, each piece is studied in the laboratory. It is now clearly established that several lots make up this extraordinary discovery. Some pieces correspond to the reign of Emperor Gallien (253-268) and of Claude II (268-270), others are struck with the effigy of usurpers then at the head of Gaul." It takes three years to identify 100 third-century coins? Maybe it's because Gallienus coins are so rare? Or maybe it's the Gallo-Roman emperors that are unusual? Or, maybe it's because they were doing something else for 2 years and 364 days?
My French is pretty good but not fluent. Am I to understand that they just announced this yesterday, after five years, and they are going to be sold next Tuesday!
I don't know what the reporting requirements are in France, but in the UK I've heard of cases where finds have been handed in to local museums to study, and the museums have left them in a cupboard for years on end. There's generally little specialist expertise outside the major museums. I feel like there's more to this story than is in the article.
I thought only some were being sold next week, so maybe they've just been returned to the finder? Not sure how much of the confusion is down to my French and how much is down the article just being confusing!
..go go google translator!!^^... i thought it was a kool article. we must forgive the journalist as he/she is not a collector as we. thanks for sharing it with us
