An unknown Roman emperor was rescued from obscurity after scientists showed that rare Roman gold coins long thought to be fakes are authentic
Research indicates that gold pieces unearthed centuries ago and long deemed fake are authentic Roman coins
A coin depicting Sponsian, who researchers say was likely a Roman army officer who declared himself emperor in the third century.A new analysis of rare Roman coins said to have been unearthed more than three centuries ago but long dismissed as forgeries provides compelling evidence thatare authentic—and that the crown-wearing man whose likeness appears on one of them was a real historical figure who ruled as a Roman emperor almost 2,000 years ago.
“The coins are the only evidence that he existed,” Paul Pearson, a University College London professorial research associate, said of Sponsian, the man depicted on the coin. “There’s no historical written evidence at all. It’s a real thrill to sort of bring somebody back from obscurity.”
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