Beneath the pavement of a village in Mesa, thousands of ancient coins have emerged after seventeen centuries of oblivion.
How can we explain this extraordinary accumulation of Roman coins buried in three different cellars? Between domestic wealth and mysterious economic practices, this discovery is restructuring our understanding of Gallo-Roman life.
In November 2025, specialists from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research made an extraordinary discovery in Senon. What should have been a simple home extension turned into a window into antiquity: three significant hoards of coins, preserved in amphorae, offer new insights into urban organization and financial practices in the 3rd century.
Excavations of 1,500 square meters revealed three significant numismatic collections, each housed in a separate residence. These houses stood out for their extraordinary comfort, demonstrating the prosperity of their inhabitants. Archaeologists identified several features that indicate a high standard of living:
Well-maintained basements with limestone stairs.
Hypocaust heating systems.
Spacious courtyards and gardens.
Craft facilities for the production of ceramics.
The location of these dwellings, situated next to the public square where religious buildings and theaters were located, confirms their central position in the ancient settlement. This area was probably home to a wealthy population of merchants and artisans, whose financial resources allowed them to accumulate significant monetary reserves.
The placement of the vessels is particularly intriguing. Unlike hastily constructed hiding places, these amphorae were carefully placed in pits and held upright with stones. This meticulous arrangement suggests a purpose beyond simple emergency hiding.
Scholars are inclined to hypothesize a complex domestic liquidity management, similar to a well-organized savings system with regular deposits and withdrawals. Some material evidence even suggests the subsequent addition of coins while the pits were not yet completely sealed. This observation supports the idea of active reserves, not frozen wealth.
During the initial purge, one particularly intriguing item emerged: a significant number of counterfeit coins, along with posthumous propaganda coins bearing the image of Emperor Claudius II. This unusual combination may reflect voluntary withdrawal from circulation during a monetary reform when certain issues lost their legal tender status. These coins, dated between 280 and 310 AD, speak to the economic turbulence during this troubled period in the Roman Empire.
Excavations at Senon (Mesa) have revealed an area inhabited since the Gallic period, with a high density of dwellings and numerous limestone quarries that were exploited and then restored during the Roman era.
The abundance of Gallic remains, with more than one structure per square meter, verifies the existence of a clustered settlement dating back to the mid-2nd century BC. Starting in the following century, the settlement underwent a radical transformation with the adoption of Roman building techniques and the emergence of a regular plot structure. This prosperity came to an abrupt end at the beginning of the 4th century, when a severe fire devastated the entire district.
