Hundreds of silver coins dating from the first century BC have been excavated by archaeologists from Pamukkale University.
The 2,100-year-old silver coins found in the ancient city of Aizanoi, Turkey. Image credit: Pamukkale University.
A total of 651 silver coins were found in a jar in the ancient city of Aizanoi, located in the present city of Çavdarhisar in the province of Kütahya, Western Turkey.
They were found in 2019 during archaeological excavations led by Professor Elif Özer, an archaeologist in the Department of Classical Archeology at Pamukkale University.
‘Most of these coins are extremely rare. It is known that one or two examples exist in collections worldwide, ”said Professor Özer.
‘Most of them were beaten in southern Italy. This is the most special silver coin find of recent times. ”
The 2,100-year-old silver coins found in Aizanoi, Turkey. Image credit: Pamukkale University.
Professor Özer and colleagues identified 439 coins from the treasure as denarii and 212 as cistophori.
They think the coins may have been brought to Aizanoi by a high-ranking Roman soldier.
Many of the coins depict the Roman emperor Augustus, while others depict Mark Antony, Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus.
“Among these silver coins covering the century of the Roman Republic, there is a counterfeit coin from that period,” Professor Özer said.
“Coins of Julius Caesar and Brutus make the collection more special.”
“One type shows a scene with Aeneas – the mythological ancestor of Remus and Romulus, the founders of Rome – entering Italy.”