Jar of Persian gold coins found in Türkiye – History Blog

Archaeologists have discovered a jar of Persian gold coins that may date to the 5th century B.C. in the ancient city-state of Notion in western Turkey. The coins are gold darics, with an image of a kneeling archer in a robe on the front. The reverse side has no image, just a stamping mark. The coins were likely minted in Sardis, 60 miles northeast of Notion, and buried in a small wine flask called an olpe.

Built on two promontories overlooking the bay where the Helles River meets the Aegean Sea, Notion was a port city that was twinned with the inland city of Kolophon. The first written record of the city dates back to the 6th century BC, but most of the archaeological remains at its current location date from the Hellenistic period (3rd to 1st century BC). Researchers believe that the city was probably rebuilt at that time, with a planned grid structure, defensive walls, terraces to expand residential areas, and a complex water supply system.

Notion was largely abandoned after the 1st century AD. Due to its remote location, Notion could not be rebuilt after its abandonment and has virtually no post-Roman architecture. In addition, there has been little ground movement or accumulation, which makes its ancient remains clearly visible above the surface. The University of Michigan Notion Archaeological Project has been documenting and excavating the site since 2014.

Excavations in 2023 uncovered remains from before the city was rebuilt during the Hellenistic period, including pottery from the 5th century BC and a section of ancient wall that was incorporated into the foundations of a 3rd century BC Hellenistic house. The jar of coins was found under the courtyard of the house. They were buried in the corner of an old building that once stood on the site.

At that time, one darik was equivalent to a soldier’s monthly salary and was mainly used to pay the salaries of mercenaries hired by the Persian Empire. This treasure may have been buried by a soldier who participated in the conflict between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states.

Notion was incorporated into the Persian Empire in the mid-sixth century BC along with other Greek cities on the west coast of Turkey. Notion broke away from Persian rule in the early fifth century BC but was reincorporated into the Persian Empire in the early fourth century BC. Notion remained a Persian possession until Alexander the Great conquered it in 334 BC.

Ancient historians frequently mention military campaigns around Notion. For much of the fifth century BC, Notion was free from Persian rule but remained under Athenian rule. Notion and its nearby cities were located in the border region between the Persian and Athenian spheres of influence, and the Greek historian Thucydides recounts a dramatic episode that illustrates the conflicting loyalties of the residents of Notion and its nearby cities.

Between 430 and 427 BC, a group of Persian sympathizers from the nearby city of Colophon occupied parts of Notion with the help of Greek and “barbarian” mercenaries. In 427 BC, an Athenian general named Paches lured the pro-Persian mercenary commanders into a trap, attacked and killed them. The Persian sympathizers were then expelled and Notion was reorganized under Athenian supervision.

Archaeological context suggests that these wars may have been the context in which the hoard was deposited, perhaps because it was abandoned rather than retrieved for safety by the burial occupants. However, the current Persian numismatic chronology places the silver darics found in the jar as dating to the 4th century BC. This chronology may need to be rewritten, as most numismatic finds that are the basis of scholarship are not found in their original archaeological context. In fact, this is the only Persian gold coin hoard ever found in Asia Minor that has an archaeological context. One of the exciting aspects of this discovery is that it provides researchers with the opportunity to correct the timeline of Achaemenid gold coins based on absolute dating analysis of archaeological strata and pottery found in the numismatic layers.

The coins are currently housed at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selcuk, Turkey, along with fragments of Athenian pottery found during excavations in the courtyard.