The treasure of Assérac sold to the Department of Loire-Atlantique.
The Assérac treasure, a remarkable archaeological discovery, was recently sold to the Dobrée Museum.
In July 2015, a farmer from Assérac accidentally discovered a monetary treasure in a field: a broken amphora containing 1,142 coins. Respecting the legal procedure, he declared his discovery to the competent authorities. The regional directorate of cultural affairs (DRAC) quickly dispatched a team of archaeologists who identified 16 additional currencies.
The treasure of Assérac: 1158 bronze coins
After careful cleaning, these pieces were studied in the medal cabinet of the National Library of France. This deposit of nearly 30 kg is made up almost exclusively of Roman sesterces dating from the 1st to the 3rd century, these large bronze pieces weighing 20-25 grams bearing imperial effigies.
The coins range from the Emperor Vespasian (69-79 AD) to Postumus, a Gallo-Roman general who reigned over Gaul between 260 and 269. The burial is therefore dated from the beginning of the 260s, a tumultuous period marked by barbarian incursions, internal conflicts and a major economic crisis.
In accordance with the sharing rules, the currencies were distributed between the municipality and the farmer. On November 12, 2024, the Assérac municipal council authorized the sale of its share to the Loire-Atlantique Departmental Council, which will allocate it to the Dobrée Museum.
€9,654 is the sum resulting from the expertise, this sum falls into the pocket of the municipality of Assérac.
On these ancient coins, we can notably observe the mention “SC” (Senatus Consulto), which testifies to the control exercised by the Roman Senate over monetary issuance.
Despite the historical interest of this discovery, the pieces are currently dormant in the reserves of the Dobrée museum, awaiting a possible future presentation to the public.
Source: Friends of Guérande
