Greece returns ancient coin hoard to Turkey in landmark repatriation

·

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.

coins greece turkey2
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.

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Latest News

Greece records longest working week in the EU, Eurostat data shows

Workers in Greece recorded the longest average working week in the European Union in 2025, according to new Eurostat figures.

Cannabis use among Greek teens reaches 25-year high

Cannabis use among teenagers in Greece has climbed to its highest level in 25 years, according to new findings released.

Metallica fans shook Athens harder than Iron Maiden, seismologists find

Fans of Metallica generated stronger seismic activity than supporters of Iron Maiden during recent Athens concerts, according to a study.

Investigation underway after historic bell disappears from Pylos fortress

Authorities in southwestern Greece are investigating the disappearance of a commemorative bell from a chapel inside the historic Niokastro fortress in Pylos.

Standoff grows over reopening of Kalavryta’s historic rack railway

A disagreement has emerged between the Greek government and local authorities in Kalavryta over the reopening of the famous Diakofto–Kalavryta rack railway.

You May Also Like

First mosque in Greek capital opens doors to worshipers

The opening signified an end to the country's long record as the only European Union capital to lack a mosque.

Petrounias demands national ‘restart’ for sport as Olympian forced to train in flooded training facility

Greek gold medalist Lefteris Petrounias has demanded 'restart' for sports in Greece as the World champion was forced to train in flooded training facility.

On this day in 1899, Greek businessman Andreas Syngros died aged 68

One of the important personalities of Hellenism in the 19th century, Andreas Syngros was considered the most powerful man of his time, after King George I .