Eight gold coins discovered during an archaeological excavation in Germany could confirm the site of the legendary Battle of TeutoburgForest.

Such a find is extremely rare, the researchers say, and this recent discovery at Kalkriese expands the number of gold coins collected at the site by more than double the previous amount. The coins featured images of the Emperor Augustus, with the imperial princes Gaius and Lucius Caesar on the back, and all date back to a period before the ancient battle.

In just six weeks of digging this season, archaeologists have uncovered mounting evidence that indicates Kalkriese was once the site of the ancient battlefield, according to Forbes. Roughly 18,000 men were killed during the slaughter in Teutoburg Forest in 9C, when German tribes led by Arminius ambushed three Roman legions.

Researchers from the University of Osnabrück and Kalkriese, who led the dig, say the discovery of the eight gold coins is one of 'extraordinary' luck.

All are in a good state of preservation, though some show significant traces of use.

The team discovered the coins - called 'aurei' - all within a few meters of each other, indicating a coin purse was likely dropped to the ground in the course of fighting, or intentionally hidden.

These coins were minted between 2BCE and 5CE, and the archaeologists speculate they once belonged to an officer or higher-ranking Roman soldier.

These coins would have been of considerable value, they say, and before the most recent discovery, only seven gold coins had been found at the ancient battlefield.

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Eight gold coins discovered in Germany mark the site of an ancient Roman massacre, archaeologists say (www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3670663/Eight-gold-coins-discovered-Germany-mark-site-ancient-Roman-massacre-archaeologists-say.html)