Medieval silver coins hoard uncovered near Moscow reveals unknown varieties

Medieval silver coins uncovered near Moscow

Archaeologists from the Russian Academy of Sciences have revealed a cache of 2,600 silver coins, recovered from a ceramic jug buried in a pit on the outskirts of Kolomna, just 71 miles southeast of Moscow. The hoard, dominated by denga pieces minted between the late 14th and early 15th centuries, includes more than ↑ 350 varieties never recorded before, prompting numismatists to reassess regional production.

Who may have hidden the treasure?

Experts suggest a wealthy noble or a prosperous merchant concealed the stash, possibly fleeing a deadly pandemic that ravaged Russian principalities between 1424 and 1427. The latest coins date to the mid‑1420s, aligning with the outbreak’s timeline.

“The rarity of the bird‑in‑flight denga points to a limited, high‑status issue,” said a senior researcher at the Institute of Archaeology.

Most of the silver pieces are denga, a half‑kopek denomination first struck under Grand Prince Vasily I. Coins bearing the names of Vasily I (1389‑1425) and his son Vasily II (1425‑1462) dominate the collection, underscoring Kolomna’s importance as the region’s second‑largest city in the 14th‑15th centuries.

Further analysis is under way, with Reuters reporting that the find could reshape understandings of medieval Russian commerce.