Hundreds of gold coins dating to Rome's Imperial era found in Italy

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It was an amphora, not a pot, but archaeologists found a literal jackpot ina dig in northern Italylast week. No word on if there was a rainbow.

Hundreds of gold coins dating from Rome's late Imperial era, the 4th or 5thcentury, were found Friday at a dig in Como, Italy, according to the ItalianMinistry of Culture.

The ministry shared photos of the shiny coins, which were spilling out of anamphora -- a Roman jar with two handles -- buried in the dirt.

Italian Ministry of Culture

Hundreds of gold coins dating to the 4thor 5th century were found in an archaeological dig in Como, Italy.

Italian Ministry of Culture

Hundreds of gold coins dating to the 4thor 5th century were found in an archaeological dig in Como, Italy.

Minister Alberto Bonisoli said the discovery "fills me withpride."

"We do not yet know in detail the historical and cultural significanceof the finding," Bonisoli said in Italian on Facebook, "but that areais proving to be a true treasure for our #archaeology."

Italian Ministry of Culture

Hundreds of gold coins dating to the 4thor 5th century were found in an archaeological dig in Como, Italy.

The discovery was made at a dig taking place at Teatro Cressoni, a theaterin Como that shut down in 1997 and has since been demolished. The Ministry ofCulture said the excavation was being carried out within the"restructuring" of the theater.

It's unclear how much the hundreds of coins could be worth.

Italian Ministry of Culture

Hundreds of gold coins dating to the 4thor 5th century were found in an archaeological dig in Como, Italy.

Como is in northern Italy, on the borderwith Switzerland, and about an hour north of Milan and a four-hour train ridefrom Rome.

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