MADRID.- Imagine digging up a patch of earth and striking gold – or, in this case, a staggering 50,000 ancient Roman coins! That’s exactly what happened in Tomares, Seville, back in 2016, and now, for the first time, this monumental treasure is taking center stage at Spain’s National Archaeological Museum (MAN).

Dubbed "Coins Sprouting from the Earth: The Treasure of Tomares, Seville," this new exhibition offers an unparalleled glimpse into a pivotal era of Roman history. It's the largest Roman coin hoard ever found in Spain, and one of the most significant worldwide, outshone only by a find in faraway Libya.

The story of its discovery reads like something out of an adventure novel. Construction workers, busy with routine park renovations in the Parque del Olivar del Zaudín, stumbled upon something extraordinary: nineteen massive olive oil amphorae. But these weren't empty containers; they were filled to the brim with over 50,000 nummi – small bronze coins, once gleaming with a silver coating, dating back to the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD. Subsequent digs revealed the site itself was once part of an ancient olive oil estate, deep in Roman Hispalis, now modern-day Seville.

"This extraordinary collection offers invaluable information about the economy, society, and politics during the Tetrarchy period," museum officials explain, highlighting the treasure's power to illuminate a crucial, often turbulent, moment in history.

Visitors to the MAN will be able to marvel at three of the original amphorae, two of which remain still sealed, their ancient contents tantalizingly hidden within. The third, fragmented by time and discovery, offers a mesmerizing spill of 2,800 coins, pouring forth as if just unearthed. Adding to the historical tapestry, the exhibition features individual coins from the nine emperors who reigned during this tumultuous period, alongside seven truly unique pieces boasting rare iconography on their reverses.

This isn't just a display of ancient currency; it's a window into the daily lives, economic systems, and political machinations of an empire in transition. For historians and enthusiasts alike, it offers a tangible connection to a world that has been buried for seventeen centuries.

"Coins Sprouting from the Earth" is a must-see for anyone fascinated by Roman history. The exhibition is free to the public and runs until September 28, 2025, at the MAN's Archaeological Discoveries Room. Don't miss this chance to witness a piece of history quite literally "sprouting from the earth."