1st-century BC Celtic treasure discovered at former sports field
Excavations at a former sports field in Thuringia have brought to light 11 silver Celtic coins, representing the largest hoard of currency discovered in the region to date.
Archaeological excavations carried out in the Thuringia region have led to the discovery of an important treasure consisting of 11 silver Celtic coins dating back approximately 2,000 years to the first century BC.
Excavation work at the old sports field
The first silver coins in the area were accidentally uncovered in July and August 2025 during infrastructure work for a new fire station at the former sports field.
Following this development, archaeologists returned to the same area in August 2026 to conduct a much more detailed and comprehensive excavation operation.
Characteristics and historical significance of the coins
Examinations confirmed that all 11 unearthed coins consist of silver Celtic currency known as the Prague type.
This discovery holds the distinction of being the largest single coin hoard from this period ever identified across Thuringia.
A treasure spread over a wide area over time
Centuries of agriculture and plowing activities caused the coins to scatter across an area approximately 5.8 meters long and 1.5 meters wide.
Experts examined the locations individually and proved that these pieces were not independent of one another, but belonged to a single hoard deposited in the ground at the same time.
Organic storage containers and other finds
The absence of any pottery fragments in the vicinity suggests that the coins were stored in an organic pouch, such as leather or fabric, which completely decayed over time.
Additionally, although Roman and Prussian finds from different periods were encountered in the area, they have no direct relation to the Celtic treasure.