Archaeologists Find Cache of Gold Coins in Ancient Greek City

Archaeologists discovered a pot of 5th-century B.C.E. gold coins in an ancient Greek city in Turkey, buried in a pot under the courtyard of an old mansion. 

The gold coins, called darics, have a picture of a kneeling archer on them. According to Smithsonian Magazine, the coins “were often used to pay soldiers—and according to the researchers, one daric was worth a whole month’s pay.”

These artifacts provide a window into the history of ancient empires, and the nature of the discovery provides additional insights.

According to University of Michigan archaeologist, Christopher Ratté, “The discovery of such a valuable find in a controlled archaeological excavation is very rare. No one ever buries a hoard of coins, especially precious metal coins, without intending to retrieve it. So only the gravest misfortune can explain the preservation of such a treasure.”

The gold coins will be publicly displayed in an exhibit at Turkey’s Ephesus Archaeological Museum.