An Ancient Home and Rare Roman Coins under a Roman Hotel

Not far from Rome's Termini Station, the Radisson Blu Hotel rises above the site of ancient Roman structures. The discovery of these buildings happened during excavations from 1999-2001. Both the hotel and the surrounding area offered some interesting discoveries. 

The area appears to have at least two rooms that would seem to be part of an insula (apartment building), typical of Rome from the 3rd or 4th century. The construction materials used were simple bricks and tuff (volcanic rock). It is slightly lower than the modern street level (about 30cm) and the ancient road on the same level may have been a minor street leading to the important Via Tiburtina.

Various items were discovered in the same area. These included a bag of valuables in a drainage channel which gives the impression that were meant to be hidden but then the owner never made it back to collect his wealth. The collection includes a gold ring, gold earrings, other earrings and six small coins. The type of coin found is called an Antoninianus, a short-lived coin introduced in 215 by the Emperor Caracalla.

Caracalla had intended for the new silver coin to perhaps rival or replace the existing Denario. The approximate initial value of the Antoninianus was two Denarii and its initial impact was to create inflation. The Emperor was depicted on the coins with a solar crown. Due to the lack of expansion of the Roman Empire during the 3^rd century, silver supplies began to dwindle. The coins were gradually minted with less and less silver. By the end of the 3^rd century, the coins were mainly bronze and had hugely decreased in value.  

A view of the discovered area is possible directly from the reception area of the Radisson Hotel. 

Written by: Robert Coghlan

Photos by: Robert Coghlan