The cache consists of high-quality Iranian gold coins, gifts minted more than two thousand years ago. This is the first such treasure found in Asia Minor. According to archaeologists, this find will allow us to learn more about the political environment during the war between the Delian and Peloponnesian Leagues.

Many scholars refer to Lydia, a historical region in western Asia Minor, as the birthplace of Western world coinage. It is believed that the Lydian king Aliattes established the minting of electrum coins, a natural alloy of silver and gold (approximately 54 percent gold and 44 percent silver), in the 7th–6th centuries BC. These were called “staters” and were used in ancient Greece and Lydia from the 5th century BC to the mid-1st century BC.

Soon after, the son of Aliatta, the last king of Lydia, Croesus, began to mint the first coins of pure gold and silver – creseidas (which set the standard of metal purity – 98 percent gold or silver). At least that’s what historians write. The well-known expression “rich as Croesus” appeared for a reason – this is what they say about a rich person who has a lot of money. The Lydian king, who had the reputation of being rich, which was unheard of in the ancient world, later became known by his name.

In 546 BC, the Persian king Cyrus II the Great from the Achaemenid dynasty defeated the armies of Croesus and conquered Lydia. Although the Lydian ruler was defeated, the state currency system he invented did not disappear anywhere.

The Persians continued to mint coats of arms until they introduced their own coins, silver (sigli) and high-quality gold (dariki) coins. The name of the latter comes either from the name of the Persian king Darius I, who reigned from 522 to 486 BC, or from the Old Persian root “ver”, meaning gold.

According to the Greek historian Thucydides, in the 20s of the 5th century BC, the Athenian general Paches attacked and defeated a detachment of Persian mercenaries stationed in the ancient port city of Notioni, luring them into a trap. After this, the Persians’ supporters abandoned Notion, and the city itself fell into Athenian hands.

Twenty years later, one of the naval battles of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta took place near Cape Notia (off the coast of Notion), which the Athenians used as a naval base. The latter was supported by Persia: in particular, it helped build the fleet, provided the Spartans with mercenaries and financial aid. Then the Athenians were defeated and hastily evacuated the city.

During archaeological excavations in the territory of Notion, located in modern Turkey, a group of American archaeologists from the University of Michigan discovered an unusual hiding place. We are talking about dozens of gifts hidden inside an olpa jar, which was used to store aromatic oils and wines in ancient Greece. The age of the gold coins is more than 2.4 thousand years. Scientists told the publication about their discovery New York Times.

Archaeologists made the discovery while excavating under the courtyard of a house built in the 3rd century BC. There, scientists discovered the ruins of an ancient building, in the corner of which was buried an ancient Greek jug filled with gifts.

According to Christopher Ratte, head of the archaeological team (Christopher Ratte), the treasure was most likely buried by someone who participated in the events of 427 BC, or by someone who left Notion in a hurry after the Athenians were defeated in the naval battle at Cape Notion. Another version, most favored by researchers, is that the coins may have belonged to a Greek mercenary who fought alongside the Persians. At that time, the Persians used gifts, especially to pay hired soldiers.

“Many Greeks fought on the side of the Persian Empire. For example, the ancient Greek historian Xenophon served under the Persian king Cyrus the Younger at the beginning of the 5th century BC, when the treasure was hidden,” Ratte explained.

According to scientists who cite ancient Greek writers, one gift was equal to a month’s “salary” of a mercenary. Since archaeologists found dozens of gold coins, it can be assumed that this warrior participated in many battles and was able to earn a fortune, but for some reason decided to hide it. The treasure probably belonged to a senior mercenary who had saved up money over many years of service.

In Daric, the Persian king is depicted on his knees in a long tunic. He holds a bow in his left hand and a long spear in his right. On the reverse side of the coin, there is only a sign for the tool used to earn money.

First of all, no such hiding place was found in Asia Minor. Scientists unrelated to the research believe that the find of a group of American archaeologists will be of great scientific importance: the treasure will help clarify the chronology of gold coin minting in the Achaemenid state. The treasure is currently kept in the Ephesus Archaeological Museum in Selçuk.