Cache of gold coins unearthed in ancient Greek city in Anatolia

·

A cache of gold coins dating to the late fifth century B.C. has been discovered in the ancient Greek city of Notion, located on the west coast of Anatolia.

According to The New York Times, the find was made by Christopher Ratté of the University of Michigan and his team. The coins were stored in an olpe, a type of small jug, and buried in the corner of a dwelling beneath the courtyard of a house from the third century B.C.

Archaeology.org, has reported that the coins have been identified as Persian darics, named either after the Old Persian word for gold or Darius I, who ruled the Persian Empire from 521 to 486 B.C. These coins feature an image of the Persian king in a long tunic, kneeling and holding a bow and long spear, while the backs of the coins are blank except for a punch mark.

Ratté explained that such coins were typically used to pay mercenaries, suggesting that the cache likely represents a soldier’s savings, hidden during a period of warfare in a contested frontier zone.

“No one ever buries a hoard of coins, especially precious metal coins, without intending to retrieve it,” he said. “So only the gravest misfortune can explain the preservation of such a treasure.”

Source: archaeology.org

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Faith, family and football: The making of Nectarios Triantis

Growing up in a bustling Greek Australian household in Sydney, footballer Nectarios Triantis was never far from a football - or chaos.

Bella Spasis’ big deal: Live music in Victoria set to thrive

Greek-Victorian bar owner, Isabella (Bella) Spasis, hosted a remarkable event at her venue, ‘The Dog’s Bar’ early on Sunday morning, July 6.

GOCNSW Home for the Aged welcomes Consul General and celebrates its donors

The Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged played host to the Consul General of Greece in Sydney and some of its major donors.

Father Athanasios Giatsios appointed Orthodox Chaplain at Macquarie University

Father Athanasios Giatsios has been appointed as the new Orthodox Chaplain at Macquarie University. Read more here.

Spiro Pappas honoured at Emirates Business Awards 2025 for Sustainable Innovation

Entrepreneur Spiro Pappas, Founder and CEO of Eureka-Tec, was honoured at the Emirates Business Awards 2025.

You May Also Like

Greece: A top destination for US and Australian travellers in 2025

A recent study reveals that travelers from the U.S. and Australia are more likely to visit Greece in the next 12 months.

National Greek Tourism Organisation to open office at The Greek Centre in Melbourne

National Greek Tourism Organisation has confirmed it will open office at The Greek Centre in Melbourne, Victoria.

Perth local Marilyn Tsolakis named Kastellorizian of the Year 2023

Perth-based Marilyn Tsolakis has been named 2023 Kastellorizian of the Year by The Kastellorizian Association of Victoria.