A small hoard of medieval English coins has been discovered near the Vatican in Rome. According to a report from New Scientist, the location and nature of the find suggest that early English residents of the city were treated as a privileged group.
The coins are English and date from the medieval period. Their proximity to the Vatican is significant because it implies that these Anglo-Saxon visitors or settlers had access to an area closely tied to religious authority. The exact reason for their special status is not yet clear, but the discovery adds a concrete clue to how English people were integrated into medieval Roman society.
While the hoard is small, it stands out as rare evidence of Anglo-Saxon activity in the heart of Rome. Further study of the coins and their archaeological context could help explain what kind of special treatment this group received and how widespread it was.