The Civil Guard has recovered a collection of historically significant ancient coins that were being illegally sold online in Tarragona. This operation, conducted by agents specialising in heritage crime, intercepted the sale of items dating back more than 2,000 years. The coins were listed on second-hand buying and selling platforms as ordinary used goods.
Cyber-patrols intercept heritage sales
The investigation began when the Civil Guard detected advertisements for ancient coins with high heritage value during routine cyber-patrolling tasks. The sellers were marketing the artefacts on standard commercial websites, bypassing the legal protocols required for trading historical heritage.
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Following the discovery, agents identified the individuals responsible for the listings. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made at this stage. However, two people are currently under investigation for looting (expolio) and crimes against historical heritage. Authorities have not released the identities of the suspects.
Rare historical treasures recovered
Once seized, the coins were handed over to the Archaeological and Paleontological Heritage Service of the Generalitat de Catalunya for authentication. Experts confirmed that the pieces were genuine and possessed significant historical and economic value. Therefore, the recovered items include:
- A Roman denarius from the era of Emperor Vitellius, dating back over 2,000 years.
- A gold dinar from the Caliphate period, estimated to be more than 1,000 years old.
- A silver real minted during the reign of King Philip V, approximately three centuries old.
The confirmation of their authenticity underscores the severity of the alleged crimes. In addition, the unauthorised sale of such items deprives the public of valuable cultural history. The investigation remains open as authorities determine the exact provenance of the looted artefacts.
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