Caption. The 5th century solidi were found in a soapstone jar apparently packed in rolls so were in an exceptional state of preservation. Image: Ufficio Stampa Ministero Beni Culturali.
A soapstone jar, found in early September, contained close to 300 well-preserved solidi dating from late antiquity, most minted on behalf of the emperors Valentinian III (425-455), Leo I (457-474), and Libius Severus (461-465).
While Italian media outlets valued the find at several million euros, numismatic websites deemed the most valuable coins (those from the four-year reign of Libius Severus) to be worth perhaps €10,000 each with the more commonly-encountered solidi of Leo I and Valentinian III valued at €500, and €1500 respectively.
