Massive Trove Of Ancient Coins Dug Up In Gunma Prefecture (Japan)

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Only a small sample of the coins could be analyzed for dating and the oldest was believed to be a Ban Liang coin from 175 B.C. Those were the first coins minted in a unified China.

Because the site was near large residences of important people in medieval Japan, the coins were likely hastily buried, perhaps for safekeeping because war was in the air.

The coins were found in an area measuring 60 centimeters by 1 meter, according to Maebashi municipal government officials. Each bundle contained about 100 coins and a total of 1,060 bundles were dug up. Traces of straw found in the area suggested the bundles were wrapped in straw matting before being buried.

So far, 334 of the coins have been examined. At least 44 types were confirmed, ranging from those made in 175 B.C. to ones as recent as 1265.

The one confirmed Ban Liang coin had a diameter of 2.3 centimeters and was 1 millimeter thick. The square hole in the middle measured 7 millimeters on each side.

The characters for "Ban" and "Liang" were engraved on the surface.

Because the newest coin dates to 1265, the trove is believed to have been buried during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). But the date of burial could change after more coins are analyzed.