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The Vice Minister of Culture and Sports, Macarena O’Neill, inaugurated at the National Archaeological Museum the exhibition ‘Coins that spring from the earth. The Treasure of Tomares’. The exhibition, which can be seen until September 27th, brings together three of the nineteen amphorae of Roman coins, dated between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD, found by chance in 2016 during construction work in the Olivar del Zaudín park in the Seville area.
«This exhibition has a very special meaning for us, as it not only allows us to showcase our work of study and safeguarding of this monetary set, but, above all, to connect with the public to the Archaeological Museum of Seville, temporarily closed due to the comprehensive rehabilitation work being carried out at its headquarters, the former Fine Arts Pavilion designed by architect Aníbal González for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929«, stated the Vice Minister. O’Neill emphasized that «the value of the Treasure of Tomares lies in its social and scientific importance, as the concealment in amphorae and the accumulation of the over 50,000 coins found provide very relevant information about the economy of antiquity, as evidenced by the ongoing research project that the Archaeological Museum of Seville is conducting with scientists from the University of Seville«, the Vice Minister reiterated at the opening of the exhibition.
The opening of the exhibition ‘Coins that spring from the earth. The Treasure of Tomares’ was attended by the Secretary of State for Culture, Jordi Martí, the Director General of Museums and Cultural Complexes, Aurora Villalobos, and the Mayor of Tomares, José María Soriano, as well as the directors of the National and Seville Archaeological Museums, Isabel Izquierdo Peraile and María Soledad Gil de los Reyes, respectively.
«This unprecedented discovery, which made headlines in media worldwide, has demonstrated the strength and capability of the Andalusian archaeological, scientific, and museum system. Andalusia has been able to successfully respond to this challenge of conservation, dissemination, and research, implementing research projects, preventive conservation procedures, and transfer and communication programs for the enjoyment of all citizens,» emphasized O’Neill during her speech.
Coins that spring from the earth
The exhibition, ‘Coins that spring from the earth. The Treasure of Tomares, Seville’, is the third exhibition to be seen in the new Novelties Room of the National Archaeological Museum. Curated by the conservators of the Archaeological Museum of Seville, Concepción San Martín Montilla and Pablo Quesada Sanz, and organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Andalusian Government, it offers the opportunity to firsthand view the largest set of Roman coins discovered in Spain and one of the largest worldwide, surpassed in size only by the find in Misurata (Libya).
The so-called ‘Treasure of Tomares’ was found by chance in 2016 during construction work in the Olivar del Zaudín Park. Subsequent investigations revealed that this location corresponded to an olive estate from ancient Híspalis, the Roman-era Seville. The discovery consisted of a set of nineteen oil amphorae used as containers for over 50,000 coins (called nummi), dated between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries AD.
In the temporary exhibition at the National Archaeological Museum, three of the original containers can be seen, two of them still sealed with their contents intact. The third is fragmented and is displayed alongside the 2,800 coins springing from its interior. To reinforce the historical context, the exhibition is complemented with a selection of such coins, bronze pieces with a superficial silver coating belonging to the nine emperors who followed during this period, as well as seven specimens considered unique due to the exceptional iconography of their reverses. This extraordinary set provides very valuable information about the economy, society, and politics during the Tetrarchy period, marking the end of the 3rd century crisis, a crucial historical moment still being studied today.
‘Coins that spring from the earth. The Treasure of Tomares, Seville’ can be enjoyed in the Novelties Room of the MAN free of charge until September 28, 2025. Additionally, the exhibition is complemented by a program including a roundtable discussion, a lecture, and a self-guided tour linked to the permanent collection. Since 2020, due to the closure to the public of the main headquarters of the Archaeological Museum of Seville, located in the Maria Luisa Park of Seville, for its conditioning and rehabilitation works, the Treasure of Tomares is stored at the Cultural Heritage Logistics Center (CLPC) of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Andalusian Government.