A team of researchers led by the University of Michigan has made a groundbreaking discovery in the ancient Greek city of Notion, located in western Turkey. Buried within a small pot, they unearthed a hoard of gold coins, believed to have been used for paying mercenary troops. These coins, known as darics, were issued by the Persian Empire and likely minted in Sardis, a city about 60 miles northeast of Notion.
Dated to the 5th century B.C., the hoard represents a significant find for historians studying the Persian daric and its timeline. According to project director Christopher Ratté, such discoveries are extremely rare due to the inherent intention to retrieve buried treasure. The preservation of this hoard suggests a tragic event prevented its recovery.
Darics, minted from the late 6th century B.C. until Alexander the Great’s conquest in 330 B.C., maintained a consistent design with minor stylistic variations. Researchers have attempted to chronologically arrange these coins based on these differences. The newly discovered hoard, independently dated by associated artifacts, offers a crucial anchor point for refining the overall coin chronology.
Andrew Meadows of Oxford University, a renowned coin expert, emphasizes the hoard’s potential to fine-tune the chronology of Achaemenid gold coinage. He describes the find as “spectacular” and of “the highest importance.”
Excavations in Notion, initiated in 2022, led to the coin discovery in 2023. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has granted permission to publicly share the findings, with the coins remaining in Turkey. While the city’s best-preserved remains date back to the Hellenistic period (3rd to 1st centuries B.C.), evidence suggests earlier habitation, including pottery fragments from the 5th century B.C. The coin hoard was uncovered beneath a courtyard in a structure predating the Hellenistic house.
Given the value of a single daric equivalent to a soldier’s monthly pay, as mentioned by the Greek historian Xenophon, researchers believe the hoard was connected to military operations in the region. The preference for mercenaries paid in darics further supports this theory.
Ratté highlights the significance of archaeological context, contrasting the informative value of scientifically excavated finds with looted artifacts that lack historical background. The hoard’s precise location and associated evidence strongly suggest a deposition date in the late 5th century B.C.
Notion’s history is intertwined with the Persian Empire, experiencing periods of both domination and independence. The city’s strategic location on the border between Persian and Athenian spheres of influence created a complex political landscape. Historical accounts, such as Thucydides’ description of a conflict involving Notion and neighboring Colophon, provide context for potential events leading to the hoard’s burial.
While the conventional chronology of Persian coins leans towards a 4th century B.C. date for the hoard, ongoing excavations and analysis of the coins are expected to shed further light on its exact age, purpose, and historical implications. The project, a collaboration between the University of Michigan and Sinop University, is authorized by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
This extraordinary discovery promises to reshape our understanding of the Persian Empire, its economy, and military strategies. As researchers delve deeper into the archaeological context and study the coins in detail, we can anticipate even more revelations about this remarkable piece of history.
Source: University of Michigan