Ancient Roman gold coins thought to be ‘fakes’ reveal long-lost emperor

‘Findings will mean the addition of another important historical figure in our history’

The Sponsian gold coin (The Hunterian, University of Glasgow)

An ancient gold coin long dismissed as a forgery is authentic and depicts a long-lost Roman emperor, according to a new study.

The coin depicting the Roman emperor Sponsian was first unearthed in Transylvania, in present-day Romania, in 1713 along with a handful of other coins of the same design, said researchers, including those from University College London.

The coins have been regarded as “fakes” since the mid-19^th century, due to their crude, strange design features and jumbled inscriptions.