Scientists have determined that four 3rd-century Roman coins found in 18th-century Romania, once thought to be forgeries, are not only authentic but the only proof of a Roman imperial claimant.
In 1713, the four coins were discovered and documented in Transylvania, now in modern-day Romania.
The coins were uncovered by officials of the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor, according to the study by British researchers into the coins published in the journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday.
The four coins involved in the study, housed at the Hunterian Museum in association with the University of Glasgow, were picked out because one coin displayed the name and symbol of a third-century Roman general and pseudo-emperor, Sponsian.