By: Ted Zeng

In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have unearthed a pot of gold coins at the excavation at Notion, initiated in 2022 by a team from the University of Michigan, Sinop University, and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey. The treasure most likely belonged to a soldier who hid the stash between 430 and 427 BC.

Depicting a Persian king kneeling with a bow and spear, the gold coins, known as darics, were primarily used to pay soldiers for their work. This has led archaeologists to believe that the treasure belonged to a mercenary who had to bury his gold for safekeeping. The fact that the treasure was never recovered raises intriguing questions about the fate of the soldier. “No one ever buries a hoard of coins, especially precious metal coins, without intending to retrieve it,” Dr. Christopher Ratte said in The University Record. One of the many theories as to what happened to the soldier is that he died, perhaps in battle, before he was able to retrieve his hoard.

The context of the coins’ burial points to a period of great political and military conflict in the region. Between 430 and 427 BCE, Notion was occupied by a group of Persian sympathizers and mercenaries. During this time, Athenian soldiers killed pro-Persian mercenaries, leading to the reorganization of the city under Athenian control. This could explain why the treasure was buried and never retrieved.

The excavation site continues to reveal important information about the area’s past.