Hidden Gold Trove Unveiled by Archaeologists

Introduction

In modern-day Turkey, a discovery was made of gold coins that were buried in a small pot and date back to the fifth century B.C. Based on their placement under a Helensitic house, it is believed that these coins were intended to settle the debts of mercenaries. The existence of these coins and their burial could possibly be attributed to the conflicts between the Persian and Athenian armies in the ancient Greek city of Notion.

During the fifth century B.C., the city of Notion in Greece faced high costs for hiring mercenary armies, especially with the ongoing battle between Persian and Athenian fighters in the region. It was likely necessary to have extra funds in order to secure additional support in the conflict. Recently, archaeologists discovered a hoard of gold coins, buried in a small pot in western Turkey, which may have been part of that spare cash.

The University of Michigan researchers found gold coins in 2023, but the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism only recently approved their publication. These coins feature a kneeling archer, which was a prominent symbol on the Persian daric coins. The Persian Empire issued these coins, potentially during the fifth century B.C., and they were likely minted in Sardis, an ancient city located about 60 miles northeast of Notion.

The discovery of this tangible pot of gold indicates that an improbable situation occurred to the owner.

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According to Christopher Ratte, a professor of ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology and the director of the Notion Archaeological Survey, the discovery of valuable artifacts through controlled excavation is a rare occurrence. The coins, found at the site of an ancient Greek city in western Turkey, were uncovered during the project, as stated in a release by the University of Michigan. The preservation of these coins, made of precious metals, is puzzling as it is unlikely for someone to bury them without any intention of retrieving them, unless faced with extreme misfortune.

The potential disaster could have taken the shape of the exact purpose the experts had in mind for the coins: war.

As reported by the Greek historian Xenophon, one daric was equal to the salary of a soldier for a month. The discovery of a collection of these coins suggests that they could have been used as payment for hired soldiers in the area of Notion.

Although Ratte acknowledged that the evidence supporting the mercenary theory is "indirect," he is convinced that the timing supports it. The city of Notion, among other Greek cities located on the western coast of present-day Turkey, became a part of the Persian Empire during the mid-sixth century B.C. However, by the early fifth century B.C., it was under Greek control. This control did not last for a significant amount of time, as the city once again came under Persian rule in the early fourth century B.C. until it was conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C.

Notion became a battleground due to the constant changing of rulers, as noted by Greek historians who recorded the involvement of barbarian soldiers in conflicts between Athens and Persia. These battles may have prompted armies to collect enough daric coins to hire additional help, but a loss could have resulted in the owners being unable to reclaim their coins, leading to the discovery of a pot of coins centuries later.

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The concept of mercenaries is not the sole explanation for the discovery of the coins, as there are other theories at play. Given that Notion was a significant military port, it is possible that the coins were used as payment to aid in the development of the harbor. In the event of a misfortune occurring to the owner of the stash, the coins would have been left hidden and undisturbed.

The origin of the daric dates back to the 6th century and came to an end when Alexander the Great took over in 330 BC. The coins maintained a similar design, with slight variations in style. The use of these coins, as well as their independent dating through the discovery of other artifacts nearby, can assist in creating a clear timeline for the daric.

According to Ratte, this collection of coins can serve as a solid reference point to establish the exact timeline of the entire series of coins.

According to Andrew Meadows, previously a curator at the British Museum and the American Numismatic Society and now at Oxford University, accurately establishing the Achaemenid gold coinage can help us refine its chronology. He also stated that the recent discovery of a 3000-year-old cheese is of utmost significance.