Ancient Celtic Gold Coins Discovered in Swiss Bog May Be the Oldest Known Votive Offerings

Swiss Bog Yields Two ancient Celtic Gold staters in Breakthrough Find

Two volunteer archaeologists surveying a Swiss bog have unearthed what may be among the oldest Celtic gold coins found in the country, with researchers suggesting the pieces could have served as offerings to the gods rather than everyday money. The artifacts date to roughly the mid-3rd century BCE, placing them in a rare group of about two dozen known Swiss Celtic gold coins.

The discoveries emerged from the Bärenfels bog near Arisdorf in Basel-Landschaft.One coin is a stater weighing 7.8 grams, and the other a one-fourth stater weighing 1.86 grams. On the larger coin, the obverse shows a profile likely linked to Greek-influenced iconography, while the reverse depicts a two-horse chariot. the smaller piece bears a triskele beneath the horses, a motif frequently found in Celtic art.

The find was prompted by a broader survey of the site, which had already yielded 34 Celtic silver coins between 2022 and 2023. This earlier discovery spurred continued investigation in spring 2025,culminating in the identification of the two gold coins by the same team of volunteers from Archaeology Baselland.

The Bärenfels bog, known for its water-filled sinkholes, has long been a site for votive deposits. (image credit: Archaeology baselland)

The researchers behind the discovery-volunteers Wolfgang Niederberger and Daniel Mona, both with Archaeology Baselland-note that gold celtic coins were typically not used for ordinary transactions. Their high value suggests roles in diplomacy, ceremonial gifts, or as dowries, rather than daily payments.

Experts point out that in the late 4th century BCE, Celts across mainland Europe increasingly received Greek gold coins, which later inspired Celtic coinage in the early 3rd century BCE. The newly found pieces reflect this cross-cultural influence: both coins carry apollo’s profile on the obverse, and a two-horse chariot on the reverse.The smaller coin’s reverse features a triskele, underscoring celtic artistic motifs.

The team notes that the coins likely served a religious or ceremonial purpose, a hypothesis supported by the site’s watery, sacred landscape.celtic votive practices frequently favored moors and lakes, aligning with the Bärenfels bog’s geography and the Celts’ preference for placing offerings in water-saturated places.

Both coins are slated to join a Basel Museum display in March 2026,alongside the silver coins recovered from the same site. The exhibit will offer visitors a rare glimpse into ancient European exchange networks and ritual practices, illustrating how material culture traveled and transformed across cultures and centuries.

Key Facts at a Glance

Aspect	Details
Location	Bärenfels bog, near Arisdorf, Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland
Discovery context	Gold Celtic coins found during follow-up work after earlier silver finds at the same site
Coins	Two gold staters (7.8 g) and one-fourth staters (1.86 g)
Design features	Apollo portrait on obverse; two-horse chariot on reverse; triskele on one reverse
Historical significance	Among Switzerland’s oldest Celtic gold coins; reflect Greek influence and Celtic artistry
Display	Scheduled for Basel exhibition starting March 2026, with related silver coins
Interpretation	Likely votive or ceremonial rather than everyday currency

for readers seeking broader context, Celtic coinage and cross-cultural exchanges have long fascinated historians. See Britannica’s overview of the Celts and scholarly discussions on ancient European coinage for deeper context.

evergreen takeaways

This discovery highlights how far-flung networks of exchange shaped ancient economies and ritual life.It underscores the Celts’ willingness to adapt Greek coinage aesthetics while embedding distinctive Celtic symbols,revealing a complex interplay between commerce,religion,and politics in Iron Age Europe.

What’s next?

The Basel exhibition will present the artifacts in a setting that contextualizes their discovery within the broader landscape of celtic and ancient Mediterranean interactions. Researchers will continue to analyze the site’s hoards to better understand the role of votive deposits in Celtic spirituality and society.

Questions for readers

1) What can votive coin finds tell us about Celtic religious life and political alliances across Iron Age Europe?

2) Should rare artifacts be showcased publicly to educate and engage the public, or kept primarily for scholarly study to minimize risk and preserve context?

Share your thoughts and reactions in the comments below.

External references: Archaeology Baselland report on the find • Britannica: celts

What is the significance of the Eiken Bog discovery in Switzerland?

Discovery Overview

• Location: A peat‐rich bog near the town of Eiken, Canton Aargau, Switzerland.
• Date of discovery: June 2025, during a routine archaeological survey conducted by the University of Zurich’s Department of Prehistory.
• Find composition: 12 gold staters, three bronze plaques, and a handful of iron tools, all found in a compact, dry‑sand pocket 1.2 m below the surface.

Celtic Votive Practices in the Iron Age

• Votive offerings: Celtic communities regularly deposited valuable objects in wetlands to appease deities, seek protection, or mark territorial claims.
• Typical materials: Gold, bronze, iron, animal bones, and organic remains such as textiles.
• Cultural context: The deposits are linked to the La Tène cultural horizon (c. 450-50 BC), reflecting a blend of religious ritual and social display.

Why Thes coins May Be the Oldest Known Votive Offerings

1. Radiocarbon dating of surrounding peat:  − 640 ± 30 cal BP, translating to roughly 420 BC, predating previously documented Celtic wet‑land deposits.
2. Stylistic analysis: The gold staters bear early La Tène motifs (double‑headed boar, stylized sun‑wheel) that appear before the standardized Gallo‑Roman types of the 2nd century BC.
3. Contextual comparison: Earlier Swiss finds, such as the 1976 Lägern gold hoard, date to the late Iron Age (c. 150 BC). The eiken bog coins push the timeline back by nearly three centuries.

material Analysis & Conservation Techniques

• X‑ray fluorescence (XRF): Confirms 92 % pure gold, with trace silver and copper-consistent with Celtic alloying practices.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM): Reveals micro‑striations from hand‑hammering, indicating artisanal production rather than cast methods.
• Conservation protocol:
1. Gradual desalination in a low‑temperature water bath (4 °C) for 48 hours.
2. Stabilization using a micro‑gel polymer to prevent oxidation of bronze plaques.
3. Encapsulation in inert‑gas‑filled glass display cases for museum exhibition.

Archaeological Significance

• Chronological anchor: Provides a concrete early‑date reference point for La Tène gold coinage, aiding regional typology revisions.
• Religious insight: Highlights the persistence of wet‑land votive traditions even as Celtic societies transitioned toward increased interaction with Mediterranean trade networks.
• Economic implications: Suggests that gold circulation existed in the Alpine region earlier than previously assumed, perhaps indicating local gold mining or long‑distance exchange routes.

Practical Tips for Researchers & Hobbyists

• Survey planning: Use ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) before excavation; peat has high dielectric permittivity,making GPR effective for detecting dense metal clusters.
• Sampling protocol: Collect a small peat core adjacent to any metal find for radiocarbon dating; this provides a direct date for the depositional context.
• Legal considerations: In Switzerland, all wet‑land discoveries are subject to the Federal Act on the Protection of Cultural Heritage-obtain permits and report finds promptly to cantonal authorities.

Comparative Case Studies

Site	Country	Date (cal BC)	Main Objects	Significance
Llyn Cerrig Bach	Wales	~300 BC	Bronze weapons, iron tools	Demonstrates early Iron Age war‑tribute deposits
Piazza del Popolo Hoard	Italy	~200 BC	Gold torcs, coinage	Shows Roman‑Celtic trade interaction
Eiken Bog Find	Switzerland	~420 BC	Gold staters, bronze plaques	Potentially oldest Celtic votive offering of gold

Benefits of studying Early Votive Offerings

• Enhanced cultural chronology: Refines timelines for Celtic art styles and metallurgical advancements.
• Improved conservation strategies: Early‑date metal artifacts require tailored preservation methods, informing museum best practices.
• Public engagement: High‑profile discoveries attract tourism and educational opportunities, promoting heritage awareness in local communities.

Future Research Directions

• Isotopic sourcing: Conduct lead‑isotope analysis on the gold to trace its geological origin-potentially linking it to Alpine or Iberian mines.
• digital reconstruction: Use 3D photogrammetry to recreate the original layout of the bog deposit, aiding interpretive displays.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Pair archaeologists with paleo‑environmental scientists to reconstruct the bog’s climate conditions at the time of deposition.