Greece returns ancient coin hoard to Turkey in landmark repatriation

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Greece has returned 1,055 ancient coins, including 61 silver staters, to Turkey after they were confiscated by Greek customs in 2019.

The coins, dated to the 5th century BC, originated from regions such as Pamphylia, Cilicia, and Athens.

During a ceremony at the Numismatic Museum in Athens, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and her Turkish counterpart Mehmet Nuri Ersoy highlighted the importance of international collaboration in combating illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts.

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Greece and Turkey’s Ministers of Culture at the coin exchange ceremony.

Both sides confirmed the coins were illegally trafficked from Turkey to Greece, and their return complies with the 1970 UNESCO Convention and a bilateral agreement signed in 2013.

Ersoy praised the repatriation and expressed hope for further cooperation, including the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Athens.

Source: AMNA.

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