Two fourth century coins found in Sinai

Egypt Daily Star News

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered two fourth-century gold coins dating back to the reign of Roman emperor Valens, the first such find in Egypt, the Supreme Council of Antiquities said on Sunday.

The two coins were discovered by a team of archaeologists led by antiquities supremo Zahi Hawass near the St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula.

"This is the first time that we discover gold coins which date back to this emperor who ruled Rome from Egypt, while similar coins have been discovered around (Syria and Lebanon)," Hawass said in a statement.

The coins bear the face of the emperor on one side wearing a laurel crown while the other side depicts the emperor in military attire, said Tarek El-Naggar, the head of Coptic and Islamic archaeology at the council.

World News - with photograph

In 378 AD a battle was to be fought which will decisively change roman history. Near the town of Adrianople, now Edirne, Valens organized his forces in battle formations. He wanted a quick victory against the unprepared Goths. He had received word of a huge gothic army walking the fields of his Empire, but when scouts returned they reported a far smaller number, thus giving the Romans numerical superiority. Valens couldn't wait, he wanted a victory, a quick success would give him eternal glory. Following his probably egoistic reason he ignored messages from the Western Emperor Gratian, who urged him not to attack but wait for his reinforcements. All in vain, he saw an opportunity and was keen to use it.

As shields began to clash and swords rage, the Gothic cavalry returned from food gathering. They were sent earlier the day to bring supplies back to the half starved Goths. The battle was intense at their arrival, so by performing a decisive maneuver they were able to storm the roman left flank. The consequences were disastrous; panic overtook the Romans who were now trying to save their skin.