Researchers from the University of Michigan’s The concept of archaeological project has struck gold. The team of archaeologists discovered a “threat of gold coins” from the Persian Empire in western Turkey.
The researchers announced the “very rare” finding in a news release on Friday.
The design of the coins — which feature the figure of a kneeling archer — is consistent with the daric, a type of gold coin used in the Persian Empire, according to the release. The coins were used from the end of the 6th century BC. until Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 BC. Scholars believe that the darice was mainly used to pay mercenaries.
The team found the hoard of coins, along with other artifacts, in a small pot buried under a large house in the middle of ancient Greek city of Notionwhich was intermittently part of the Persian Empire during the time the coins were in circulation.
“Probably it was kept there for safekeeping and for some reason never recovered.” said Christopher Rattéprofessor of classical studies at the University of Michigan and director of the Notion Archaeological Project.
Concept Archeology Project, University of Michigan
The discovery was made in 2023 and was made public last week after permission from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“This is a spectacular find … of the highest importance,” said Andrew Meadows of Oxford University, former curator of coins at the British Museum and the American Numismatic Society.
Researchers say the coins, some of which date back to the 5th century BC, will provide another “data point” in mapping the daric timeline.
“This hoard will provide a firm date that can serve as an anchor to fix the chronology of (the entire sequence of coins),” Ratté said.
The storage of the coins was probably due to some kind of conflict in and around Notion, which was one hotspot for military operations. Researchers say the treasure probably ended up in its resting place due to a blunder by the owners.
“No one ever buries a cache of coins, especially bullion coins, without intending to retrieve them.” Ratté said. “So only the gravest calamity can explain the preservation of such a treasure.”