An amateur archaeologist in western Germany discovered 934 Roman silver coins after his metal detector signaled repeatedly in a field near Wesseling.

The hoard weighs 3.1 kilograms and is the largest coin treasure found in Germany dating to the time of Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Most of the coins date to the Flavian emperors, while the oldest was minted in 148 B.C., and experts believe the collection was deliberately buried in the second century A.D.

Archaeologists say the owner may have hidden the money for safekeeping but possibly died before recovering it or passing on its location, CBS News has reported.

The hoard would have represented a substantial fortune, with a Roman legionary needing to save about six years of disposable income to accumulate the same amount.