Researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) revealed in early August that they had discovered a huge amount of gold coins that were likely used to pay mercenary troops.
The ancient treasures Ancient Greek city of NotionAlthough technically it is located in western Turkey, according to According to a press release issued by the University of Michigan on August 4, the intricate gold design depicts a kneeling archer. DarixIssued by the Persian Empire in 1840. SardisIt is believed to date back to the 5th century BC.
“Such precious discoveries are extremely rare in controlled archaeological excavations,” University of Michigan archaeologist Christopher Latt said in a statement. “No one would bury a large amount of coins, especially those of precious metals, without the intention of retrieving them, so the preservation of such a treasure can only be explained by the most egregious misfortune.”
The research team: University of Michigan Archaeologist Christopher Ratte discovered a huge amount of gold coins, likely used to pay mercenary troops, buried in a small urn in the ancient Greek city of Notion in western Turkey. https://t.co/swjaWk2sqU
— Michigan Research (@UMichResearch) August 5, 2024
The statement said that Daric coins were minted from the second half of the 6th century BC onwards, so further work is needed to confirm the exact date of the coins. (Related: Carvings discovered at Gobekli Tepe may be world's oldest calendar)
“This is a fantastic find and extremely important,” said Andrew Meadows, former British Museum curator of coins at the University of Oxford, adding that pinpointing the date could allow researchers to determine the chronology of this particular coin.
From Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (Wikimedia)
“The treasure was found in the corner of a room in a building buried under a Hellenistic house. It was probably kept there for safekeeping and for some reason was not discovered,” Ratet added. “According to the Greek historian Xenophon, one daric was equal to one soldier's pay.”
Ratte argued that it's likely that many of the darics have been lost over time by centuries of looters who never really understood their value. (Related article: “Whoever breaks this will die”: Scientists report discovery of terrifying ancient artifact)
“An archaeological discovery without context is like a person suffering from amnesia — someone with no memory,” he continued, noting that the loss of knowledge would be “immeasurable.” Thankfully, the find will give scientists more historical context and, hopefully, answers as to who left it there.
