Divers in southern France have pulled 847 ancient Roman coins from the murky depths of the Rhône River near the city of Arles. This stunning find happened during an underwater expedition that wrapped up on October 3, 2025, and it hints at a lost treasure from nearly 1,800 years ago.
Archaeologists believe the coins, mostly from the third century, ended up there by accident, perhaps spilling from a chest during a shipwreck. The discovery adds to the rich Roman history of Arles, once a bustling port in the empire, and raises exciting questions about daily life back then.
The Thrilling Dive That Led to the Find
Underwater experts kicked off their search in late August 2025, braving strong currents and low visibility in the Rhône. They started small, spotting just 60 coins at first, then 80 more as they dug deeper into the riverbed.
The big breakthrough came when they uncovered around 600 coins in one go, pushing the total to 847. Among them stood out a rare sestertius from Emperor Trajan, minted in 116 C.E., showing just how far back this hoard might reach.
David Djaoui, a lead archaeologist on the project, called it a true wonder. He noted the tough conditions but praised the team’s hard work in piecing together this puzzle from the river’s bottom.
Clues to the Coins’ Ancient Journey
Experts think the coins link to a nearby 65-foot-long boat wreck, though they cannot say for sure yet. The boat’s wooden remains suggest it sank long ago, maybe carrying goods along the vital trade route of the Rhône.
Many coins bear marks from the third century, a time of turmoil for Rome with emperors rising and falling fast. This era saw economic shifts, and such hoards often served as savings or emergency funds for travelers or merchants.
Djaoui suspects a dramatic mishap, like a storm or collision, sent the coins tumbling into the water. He even imagines them once locked in a sturdy chest, the kind seen in old tales, which the team still hopes to locate.
What Makes This Roman Treasure Special
These coins offer a window into Roman economy and culture in Gaul, the region now known as France. Arles, founded as a Roman colony in 46 B.C.E., served as a key hub for legions and trade, making it a hotspot for such relics.
The find includes a mix of bronze and silver pieces, some in near-perfect shape despite centuries underwater. This preservation points to the Rhône’s unique silt layers acting like a natural seal.
To highlight the variety, here is a quick breakdown of notable coin types from the trove:
- Sestertius of Trajan (116 C.E.): One example, showing the emperor’s profile and symbolizing early imperial power.
- Third-century denarii: Over 700 pieces, featuring rulers like Gallienus amid the empire’s crisis years.
- Antoniniani: Common silver coins from the 260s-270s C.E., reflecting inflation and debasement in Roman currency.
Such details help historians track how money flowed through the provinces.
Past Discoveries That Built the Mystery
The Rhône has given up secrets before, turning Arles into a treasure hunter’s dream. In 2011, teams lifted a massive 102-foot barge from the river, loaded with artifacts from the first century C.E.
Just a few years back, divers found a marble bust thought to be Julius Caesar, adding drama to the site’s story. Another coin batch surfaced in recent digs, proving the river holds more than meets the eye.
These earlier hauls connect to broader Roman networks, like the recent 2025 find of gold coins in Luxembourg from the fourth century. That hoard, buried in a fort, echoes themes of hidden wealth during the empire’s decline.
For context, consider this table of key Rhône River finds over the years:
| Year | Discovery | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Roman Barge | 102 feet long, first-century trade vessel with cargo remains. |
| 2017 | Julius Caesar Bust | Life-size marble head, possibly from a shipwreck. |
| 2022 | Coin Batch | Smaller group of third-century coins near Arles port. |
| 2025 | 847 Coins | Latest trove, linked to 65-foot wreck, mostly third century. |
This timeline shows how each uncover builds on the last, painting a fuller picture of Roman life.
Looking Ahead for More River Secrets
Researchers plan to clean and study the coins in labs, using scans to reveal hidden inscriptions. They aim to date the wreck precisely and check for ties to known Roman routes.
This could shed light on trade volumes or even military movements in Gaul. With climate change stirring riverbeds, more finds might surface soon, urging faster preservation efforts.
The “miracle of the Arlesian Rhône,” as Djaoui puts it, reminds us how rivers guard history. It ties into global trends, like the 2025 Italian dives yielding 50,000 Roman coins off the coast, showing underwater archaeology’s boom.
What do you think caused this treasure to sink? Share your ideas in the comments below and spread the word by sharing this article with fellow history fans.
