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The trove of coins from Leifers-Reif
After its conquest in 15 BC the Alpine region was divided among several provinces of the Roman Empire. However, there had already been contact between the indigenous population and the Romans in the south long before the region’s official integration in the Roman Empire. This is clearly shown by the discovery of 22 Roman silver denaria at Leifers-Reif. The coins were struck between 155 and 116/115 BC. Their small number and uniform signs of use indicate that they represent some unknown person’s savings. The treasure may have been buried in 113 BC when the Cimbri advanced into the Alps, pillaging settlements.
Gold and silver
Gold and silver are the epitome of precious metal. The most productive gold veins in the Alpine region are on the Tauern Heights, a mountainous area in what is today Austria. However, gold also occurs as gold dust in the gravel and sand of Alpine streams, where it ends up as a result of the slow erosion of gold-bearing rock. Written references to prehistoric mining of gold veins in the Alps can be found in the records of Greek historians about the Celts.
Silver was also mined in the Alps for thousands of years. Large silver deposits were discovered at Schwaz, for example, and on Schnee Mountain near the Main Alpine Ridge. The first objects fashioned with the two precious metals date from the Copper Age. In antiquity silver was used mainly for coins, rings, and jewellery.
A closer look – Roman coin minting
To produce coins Roman minters first had to cast disc-shaped blanks with two smooth sides in gold, silver, brass, or copper. Minting was done in a second step. The minter placed a blank in a coin-size hollow in an iron die. In the bottom of the die was the image that would appear on the front side of the coin, but in reverse. The corresponding tool was the stamp. The stamp bore the image that would appear on the back of the coin – again in reverse. When the stamp was struck sharply with a hammer against the coin, both sides of the coin were minted at the same time.
During the Roman Empire from the 1st to 4th century AD the front side of the coin always featured the portrait and name of the Roman emperor at the time the coin was minted. The back of the coin bore the image of a god or allegorical figure.
Treasure troves
Why do archaeologists keep finding treasure troves? These include coin hoards like the one found at Leifers-Reif as well as the Neolithic stone tool deposit discovered at Sonnenburger Hill. During the Bronze Age and Iron Age such troves could also contain bronze or iron ingots. What they have in common is that they are all assemblages of valuable objects. If we find that a large number of hoards were hidden in the same period, we can conclude that the times were uncertain and beset with conflict and war. People hid their valuables in holes or remote places to protect them from robbers and pillagers. The former owners were unable to recover their coins or valuables later on.
Raetians and Romans
The Raetians who settled in the Alpine region maintained close contact with their southern neighbours throughout the late Iron Age from 550 to 15 BC. This did not change when the Romans built the first cities on the Po Plain towards the end of the 3rd century BC. Roman coins from the 2nd to the 1st century BC from Raetian settlements clearly reflect these contacts. After the Roman conquest in 15 BC, the entire Alpine region came under Roman rule. The people were already familiar with the lifestyle of the new masters. However, the Romanization of the native population accelerated when the region was incorporated in the Roman Empire. The official language was Latin. Roman writing, beliefs, dress, customs, and architecture spread. The innovations certainly brought advances to some sections of the indigenous population: Good roads were built, trade flourished, luxury goods were imported, and the Roman lifestyle made life easier. Nevertheless, old traditions survived, especially deep-rooted beliefs and dress customs.
