University of Michigan Archaeologists Unearth Persian Gold in Historic Turkish Site

A remarkable archaeological discovery by a team from the University of Michigan unearthed a collection of ancient Persian coins in Turkey, buried in a small pot in an ancient Greek city in western Turkey. The excavation, conducted in collaboration with local Turkish authorities, occurred at Notion, an archaeologically significant site encompassing 80 acres atop a promontory in western Anatolia, a borderland dividing Asia from Europe. It is thought to have been a bustling trade center during the Achaemenid Empire.

The find is particularly significant as it sheds light on the extent of Persian influence in Anatolia. The presence of these coins in Turkey underscores the vast reach of the Achaemenid Empire, which, at its height, stretched from the Indus Valley in the east to the Balkans in the west. The coins feature the depiction of a kneeling archer, which is the characteristic design of the Persian daric. The daric was a type of gold coin issued by the Persian Empire. It was likely minted at Sardis, sixty miles northeast of the archaeological site.

“The discovery of such a valuable find in a controlled archaeological excavation is very rare,” said Christopher Ratté, U-M archaeologist, project director, and professor of classical studies. “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.”

Researchers at the University of Michigan have dated the hoard to the 5th century B.C. They believe the discovery will provide another telling datapoint about the Persian daric’s timeline and history. Darics were produced from the late sixth century B.C. until Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire in 330 B.C. The coins’ design stayed broadly consistent except for slight stylistic variations. Researchers have attempted to organize these coins chronologically by examining these subtle differences. A vital feature of the newly found hoard is its independent dating, verified by other artifacts found alongside the coins. According to Ratté, the hoard will provide a firm date that can serve as an anchor to help fix the chronology of the entire sequence of coins. 

Researchers began excavations in Notion in 2022. The archaeologists involved in the project unearthed the coins in 2023. The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has now permitted the discovery of these coins (which will remain in Turkey) to be made public.

“The hoard was found in the corner of a room in a structure buried beneath the Hellenistic house. Presumably, it was stored there for safekeeping and for some reason never recovered,” Ratté said. “According to the Greek historian Xenophon, a single daric was equivalent to a soldier’s pay for one month.” Researchers believe that the daric was the primary method of payment for mercenary soldiers, furthering the idea that the hoard could be associated with military operations in the area. 

Ratté added that most hoards of darics have been found not by archaeologists in scientific excavations but by looters who have “no concern for history.”

The new field season at Notion has just started, and researchers anticipate that ongoing excavation will shed light on the hoard’s archaeological context. Meanwhile, the study of the coins, now housed at the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Turkey, is expected to offer additional insights into their date, function, and historical significance.

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