Persian gold coins likely used to pay mercenaries found at site of ancient Greek city in western Turkey

by | Sep 3, 2024 | Top Story | 0 comments

Archaeologists discovered a pot of gold Persian coins, called darics, at the ancient city of Notion in Turkey. The coins show a figure of a kneeling archer, the characteristic design of the Persian daric, a type of gold coin issued by the Persian Empire and probably minted at Sardis, 60 miles northeast of Notion, according to Christopher Ratté, a professor of ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology at the University of Michigan and director of the Notion Archaeological Project. Photo credit: Credit: Notion Archaeological Project, University of Michigan

University of Michigan archaeologists unearthed a hoard of Persian gold coins, known as darics, at the ancient Greek city of Notion in western Turkey. Likely used to pay mercenaries, these fifth-century B.C. coins offer significant historical insights into Persian currency and military operations. Led by Professor Christopher Ratté, the discovery sheds new light on the Persian Empire’s influence and the timeline of gold coinage. This rare find enhances our understanding of ancient Greek and Persian interactions.