From Macedon to the Alps: Two of Switzerland’s Oldest Celtic Gold Coins Discovered in Arisdorf

Archaeologists in northwestern Switzerland have made a remarkable discovery: two rare Celtic gold coins dating back more than 2,200 years have been unearthed near the village of Arisdorf in the canton of Basel-Landschaft.

The finds are among the oldest Celtic coins ever discovered in Switzerland and offer new insights into early money, ritual practices, and Celtic culture in Central Europe.

Rare Discovery in a Well-Known Archaeological Area

The gold coins were discovered by two volunteer researchers working with Archäologie Baselland, the cantonal archaeological service. The find location lies in a wooded area known as Bärenfels, near Arisdorf, a site that has already proven archaeologically significant in recent years.

In 2023, archaeologists uncovered a hoard of 34 Celtic silver coins at the same site, dating to around 80–70 BC. As part of a follow-up investigation in spring 2025, volunteers Wolfgang Niederberger and Daniel Mona, together with other team members, conducted systematic surveys of the surrounding area. To the surprise of everyone involved, they discovered two Celtic gold coins: a full stater and a quarter stater.

Among the Oldest Coins in Switzerland

Experts have dated the newly found gold coins to the mid and late 3rd century BC, placing them among the oldest Celtic coins ever found in Switzerland. According to current research, fewer than two dozen comparable examples from this early period are known nationwide.

Coin specialist Michael Nick from the Inventory of Swiss Coin Finds (IFS) identified the coins as extremely rare types. The larger coin, weighing 7.8 grams, belongs to the Gamshurst type, while the smaller 1.86-gram coin is classified as a Montmorot type.

Celtic Coinage and Macedonian Influence

Historians believe that the introduction of coinage in Central Europe is closely linked to Celtic mercenaries who served in the Mediterranean world. These warriors were paid in coins during campaigns in Greece and brought the concept of money back to their homelands.

By the mid-3rd century BC, Celtic groups began minting their own gold coins, inspired by those of Philip II of Macedon (359–336 BC). The original Macedonian coins depicted the head of the god Apollo on the front and a two-horse chariot (biga) on the reverse. Celtic minters adopted these motifs but transformed them into a more abstract, distinctly Celtic artistic style.

The Arisdorf coins are part of this early phase of Celtic coin production, making them especially valuable for research into the origins of money north of the Alps.

Ritual Offerings Rather Than Everyday Money?

Archaeologists emphasize that such gold coins were likely not used in everyday trade. Their high value suggests they served special purposes, such as payments to elites, diplomatic gifts, dowries, or symbolic rewards.

Notably, Celtic gold coins are frequently found in graves, wetlands, and near water sources. The Arisdorf discovery fits this pattern. The Bärenfels area contains water-filled sinkholes that form part of a marshy landscape known as the Bärenfels Moor.

Because wetlands and unusual natural locations were often considered sacred in Celtic belief systems, experts believe the coins may have been deliberately deposited as offerings to deities. Such ritual practices are documented in ancient written sources and confirmed by archaeological evidence across Central Europe. A nearby site in Füllinsdorf, known as Büechlihau, is also believed to have been a Celtic sacred grove.

Coins to Be Displayed in Basel Museum

Due to their rarity and historical importance, Archäologie Baselland and the Historical Museum Basel have decided to include the gold coins in the ongoing exhibition “Treasure Finds”.

Starting March 2026, visitors will be able to see the gold coins alongside the previously discovered silver coins from the same site. The objects will be displayed in a special showcase at the Barfüsserkirche in Basel, offering the public a rare glimpse into Switzerland’s ancient Celtic past.

A Discovery That Rewrites Early Swiss History

The discovery of the Arisdorf gold coins not only enriches Switzerland’s archaeological record but also highlights the crucial role of volunteer researchers in uncovering the past. As archaeologists continue to study the site, the shimmering gold from Bärenfels is already shedding new light on early Celtic society, belief systems, and the origins of money in the region.

Archäologie Baselland

Cover Image Credit: Nicole Gebhard – Archäologie Baselland