Greek Art Found on 2,000-Year-Old Celtic Coins Shows Cultural Reach in Central Europe

Archaeologists in the Czech Republic have uncovered hundreds of ancient Celtic coins that reflecting the artistic influence of the Greek world, revealing how far Hellenistic culture spread through trade and artistic exchange across Central Europe more than 2,000 years ago.

The treasure, discovered in the Pilsen region of western Bohemia, comprises approximately 500 gold and silver coins, along with jewelry, bronze ornaments, and raw gold, dating from the 1st to the 6th century BC.

Researchers say the find shows that Celtic tribes in what is now Czech Republic not only traded with the Mediterranean world but also absorbed elements of its mythology and symbolism.

Greek artistry in Celtic Bohemia

Many of the small coins—some measuring barely a centimeter—feature portraits modeled after Hellenistic designs from Macedonia and Thrace.

Others depict horses, suns, or abstract patterns inspired by Greek iconography. These details, archaeologists say, point to extensive cultural contact between the Celts and Greek colonies along the Adriatic coast and the Balkans.

Discovery sparked by a single coin

The story began in 2021, when an amateur archaeologist using a metal detector unearthed a fragment of a gold coin from the 2nd century BC. He reported it to local authorities, prompting a major investigation by MGSP and the Czech Academy of Sciences.

“It turned out that the site contains a large number of primarily small metal objects, very interesting artefacts, mostly coins but not only coins,” said Pavel Kodera, director of the Museum and Gallery of the Northern Pilsen Region (MGSP) in Mariánská Týnice.

“There are gold ingots, chopped pieces, even raw flakes and lumps of gold, along with earrings, fragments of bracelets, and similar items.”

Among the finds are bronze pins, clasps, pendants, and a miniature horse figurine, all suggesting the site’s importance as a center of trade and craftsmanship during the Iron Age.

An untouched and rare site

Unlike many Celtic sites that were looted centuries ago, this one has remained undisturbed. Its exact location is being kept confidential to protect it from treasure hunters and agricultural damage.

“The extraordinary value of these artifacts also lies in the opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of a rare Iron Age site — both in terms of settlement patterns and the finds themselves — which, unlike most comparable European sites, has not been disturbed by illegal digging,” said Jan Mařík, director of the Archaeological Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague.

No permanent settlement has been found, but archaeologists believe the site may have been a seasonal gathering place for trade or ritual exchange. The abundance of coins suggests marketplace activity or offerings made to deities.

From excavation to exhibition

Isotope analyses are now underway to determine whether the gold was sourced locally or imported from the Mediterranean. A portion of the treasure is already on display at MGSP in an exhibition titled Unclear Report on the Celts in Northern Pilsen.

“The most exceptional pieces remain in safe storage and will be presented only after the entire research project has been fully evaluated,” Kodera said. “In the future, we are also considering establishing a new permanent museum exhibition to offer an entirely new perspective on Celtic life in our region.”