Archaeologists from the University of Michigan have discovered a hoard of Persian gold coins in the Greek city-state of Notion.
Notion was founded on the west coast of Anatolia in the Gulf of Kuşadası, modern Turkey. The city served as the main port for pilgrims travelling to nearby Claros to visit the oracle of Apollo.
In the mid-6th century BC, the city was conquered by the Persian Empire (also known as the Achaemenid Empire), but was liberated in the Greco–Persian Wars (499–449 BC).
Notion joined the Delian League, a confederacy led by Athens that served as an offensive and defensive alliance of autonomous states to resist the Persian threat.
Most of the surviving remains of the city date to the 3rd to 1st century BC during the Hellenistic period, consisting of the city walls, necropolis, the Temple of Athena, the agora, and the theatre.
Recent excavations led by the University of Michigan have uncovered a hoard of Persian gold coins deposited in a small ceramic pot at a large courtyard house in the centre of the city.
Most of the coins are known as darics, a type of coin issued by the Persian Empire, which were likely minted in the 5th century BC at Sardis, the capital of the Persian satrapy of Lydia.
According to the archaeologists, the coins depict a kneeling archer, a typical characteristic design of the Persian daric, likely intended to be used as payment for mercenary troops.
The coins have been arranged in a chronological sequence by analysing the stylistic differences, which have played an important role in independently dating other objects associated with the hoard.
Christopher Ratté from the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology and director of the Notion Archaeological Project, said: “The discovery of such a valuable find in a controlled archaeological excavation is very rare.”
“This hoard will provide a firm date that can serve as an anchor to help fix the chronology of the (entire sequence of coins),” added Ratté.
Header Image Credit : Notion Archaeological Project
Sources : University of Michigan
