Found this coin in a molehill while mowing my lawn – Lower Saxony, Germany. Help identifying?
**Found this old coin while mowing the lawn in Lower Saxony, Germany – need help identifying it!**
Hey everyone, I stumbled upon this coin completely by accident today. While mowing my lawn, a mole had pushed up a molehill and this coin was sitting right on top of it. Didn't use a metal detector or anything – pure luck!
**What I know so far:**
- **Location:** Lower Saxony, Germany
- **How found:** On top of a molehill while mowing the lawn
- **Diameter:** Approx. 20–23 mm (slightly larger than a 1 Euro Cent coin = 16.25 mm)
- **Material:** Appears to be bronze or copper – NOT magnetic, makes a metallic sound when tapped
- **Condition:** Heavy corrosion and patina, blue-green bronze patina visible after rinsing with water
- **Weight:** Unknown
- **Design:** What appears to be a cross motif visible on one side, other side unclear
- **Edge:** Irregular, uneven – suggests hand-struck, not machine minted
**My thoughts:**
Based on the size, material, cross motif and patina it could be a medieval Pfennig/Denar (12th–15th century) or possibly a late Roman bronze coin (AE2/AE3, 3rd–4th century). But I really have no idea!
I have NOT cleaned it – just rinsed it under water. I'm planning to report it to the local heritage authority (Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege) as required by German law.
Any help identifying this would be greatly appreciated! Happy to provide more photos if needed. 🙏