Archaeology Volunteers find two of the oldest gold coins in Switzerland
Two of the oldest gold coins in Switzerland have come to light near Arisdorf BL. According to experts, the valuable finds date back to the third century BC.
18.12.2025, 10:48
18.12.2025, 10:49
SDA
This makes them part of a small group of just over 20 known examples of the oldest Celtic coins ever found in Switzerland, Baselland Archaeology announced on Thursday. The coins were discovered by volunteers near the Bärenfelser Moor. A hoard of 34 Celtic silver coins had already been discovered there in 2023.
The newly discovered coins are a stater weighing 7.8 grams and a quarter stater weighing 1.86 grams. Staters were an important currency in various regions.
Too valuable for everyday payments
Research assumes that Celtic mercenaries brought the monetary system to Central Europe. They were paid with coins in Greece and began to mint their own coins after their return. In doing so, they imitated the gold coins of the Macedonian king Philip II (359-336 BC). The coins found in Arisdorf are such imitations. They show the head of the god Apollo on the obverse and a team of horses on the reverse, both in a Celtic style.
The archaeologists assume that the coins were not used as everyday currency. According to the archaeology office, they were too valuable for that. Instead, they could have been sacrificial offerings: places such as moors, where they were found, were often considered sacred by the Celts.
The two gold coins will be on display in the "Treasure Finds" exhibition at the Basel Historical Museum in the Barfüsserkirche from March.
