Celtic Gold Coins, Oldest in Country, Found by Amateur Archaeologists

Volunteer archaeologists have discovered two Celtic gold coins, which are amongst the oldest ever found in the country, Live Science reported.

The miraculous discovery was made by two volunteer archaeologists as they patrolled a bog in eastern Sweden. The two Celtic coins date back 2,300 years, or roughly the mid-third century B.C. "This makes them part of a very small group of just over 20 known examples of the oldest Celtic coins from Switzerland," Swiss archaeologists said in a statement released on Dec. 18.

The first coin found is a stater which weighs 0.28 ounces (7.8 grams). The second is a one-fourth stater which weighs 0.06 ounces (1.86 grams). (Stater is an ancient Greek word meaning coin.) Both coins depict the Greek god Apollo on one side and a two-horse chariot on the opposite side. In ancient times, up through the end of the fourth century B.C., the Celts of mainland Europe were paid for their military work with Greek coins as payment at the end of the fourth century B.C. These coins were later used as the inspiration for Celtic money when those coins were forged at the beginning of the third century B.C.

Excavation Has Been Ongoing Since 2022

The excavation began several years ago, when volunteer archaeologists with Archaeology Baselland recovered 34 Celtic silver coins between 2022 and 2023. It was during a follow-up excavation in spring 2025 when researchers discovered the two gold coins. According to the archaeologists' statement, it's possible that the coins were deposited as an offering to the gods. "Experts assume that Celtic gold coins were not used for everyday transactions. They were too valuable for that," the statement explained. They were commonly used as offerings to the gods, or gifts for dowries or followers.

Both of the gold Celtic coins will be put on display together at a special showcase in Basel beginning in March 2026.