Romans in the Americas

[Sean Manning]

Like I said earlier, I'd say it was Spanish bringing them in, plus maybe Vikings for the older or very northern finds of Roman coins. Just look at all these hoards of Roman coins found nowadays, I'm sure people in the past were finding them too AND using them once they found them. It would have been like winning the lottery!

There are Roman coins in the foundation deposits of some early buildings in the New World. So early settlers were definitely bringing some along!

Given the limits of Roman sailing ships (they were fairly big, but had a simple rig and fragile steering oars) and the lack of evidence of Roman traders sailing in the right direction, it doesn't seem likely that any would have crossed the Atlantic. Exploring the Indian Ocean and British Isles was adventurous enough!

The odd coin can be explained a variety of ways: we know some were brought by early settlers and colonists, and others might have washed across the Atlantic after shipwrecks or in the bellies of fish.

I think I've read a few alternate history stories about Romans in the New World, but can't remember the names or authors.