Czech archaeologists are calling it one of the greatest finds of the last decade, as more than 2,000 silver coins have been discovered just outside of Prague.
A woman out for a walk in the village of Kutnohorsk came across the coin hoard, and immediately contacted experts. Archaeologists explored the area and found more than 2,150 coins, which have been identified as minuted by of three Přemysl rulers, King Vratislav II (1061-92), Duke Břetislav II (1092-1100) and Duke Bořivoje II (1100-1120).
“The entire depot was originally stored in a ceramic container, from which unfortunately only the bottom was preserved after plowing,” describes archaeologist Filip Velímský from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague. “It was probably placed in its place during the first quarter of the 12th century, at a time of internal political instability. At that time, there were disputes in the country between the members of the Přemysl dynasty about the princely throne of Prague.”
Photo courtesy Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
This rich collection of coins is being processed by experts from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague (ARÚ of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic), and the Czech Silver Museum in Kutná Hora. They have revealed that along with silver, the coins contain copper, lead and trace amounts of other metals.
“The coins were most likely minted in the Prague mint from silver that was imported to Bohemia at the time,” says Lenka Mazačová, director of the Czech Silver Museum in Kutná Hora.
Due to the frequent battles for the Prague princely throne, the armies of individual rival princes repeatedly marched through today’s Kutnohorska. Experts do not rule out the possibility that the found depot represents cash for paying wages or war booty.
Photo courtesy Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
“Unfortunately, for the turn of 11th – 12th century, we lack data on the purchasing power of the contemporary coin,” explains Filip Velímský. “But it was a huge amount, unimaginable for an ordinary person and at the same time unaffordable. It can be compared to winning a million in the jackpot.”
The Czech Silver Museum and the Prague Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic have a lot of work to do in the coming year.
“The task of the museum staff will be to register all parts of the find in the collection, to also ensure the cleaning of individual coins and possible restoration interventions, their photography for publication and promotional purposes, numismatic identification, including the preparation of a detailed catalogue,” calculates Lenka Mazačová.
Photo courtesy Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
In addition, the coins will undergo classical and X-ray imaging and spectral analysis to determine their specific material composition. The final intention is to display the depot in the coin exhibition of the museum in Kutná Hora, thus making this extraordinary find available to the public in the summer of 2025.
Czech archaeologists are calling it one of the greatest finds of the last decade, as more than 2,000 silver coins have been discovered just outside of Prague.
A woman out for a walk in the village of Kutnohorsk came across the coin hoard, and immediately contacted experts. Archaeologists explored the area and found more than 2,150 coins, which have been identified as minuted by of three Přemysl rulers, King Vratislav II (1061-92), Duke Břetislav II (1092-1100) and Duke Bořivoje II (1100-1120).
“The entire depot was originally stored in a ceramic container, from which unfortunately only the bottom was preserved after plowing,” describes archaeologist Filip Velímský from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague. “It was probably placed in its place during the first quarter of the 12th century, at a time of internal political instability. At that time, there were disputes in the country between the members of the Přemysl dynasty about the princely throne of Prague.”
This rich collection of coins is being processed by experts from the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague (ARÚ of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic), and the Czech Silver Museum in Kutná Hora. They have revealed that along with silver, the coins contain copper, lead and trace amounts of other metals.
“The coins were most likely minted in the Prague mint from silver that was imported to Bohemia at the time,” says Lenka Mazačová, director of the Czech Silver Museum in Kutná Hora.
Due to the frequent battles for the Prague princely throne, the armies of individual rival princes repeatedly marched through today’s Kutnohorska. Experts do not rule out the possibility that the found depot represents cash for paying wages or war booty.
“Unfortunately, for the turn of 11th – 12th century, we lack data on the purchasing power of the contemporary coin,” explains Filip Velímský. “But it was a huge amount, unimaginable for an ordinary person and at the same time unaffordable. It can be compared to winning a million in the jackpot.”
The Czech Silver Museum and the Prague Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic have a lot of work to do in the coming year.
“The task of the museum staff will be to register all parts of the find in the collection, to also ensure the cleaning of individual coins and possible restoration interventions, their photography for publication and promotional purposes, numismatic identification, including the preparation of a detailed catalogue,” calculates Lenka Mazačová.
In addition, the coins will undergo classical and X-ray imaging and spectral analysis to determine their specific material composition. The final intention is to display the depot in the coin exhibition of the museum in Kutná Hora, thus making this extraordinary find available to the public in the summer of 2025.
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