Greece returns to Turkey 1,055 ancient Lydian coins, which had been confiscated by Greek authorities.
The coins, which were seized at the Kipi customs office in Evros, originate from illegal excavations and smuggling, and were illegally exported from Turkey. Their official handover will take place in a special ceremony at the Numismatic Museum, where the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, will hand them over to her Turkish counterpart, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
Analysis of the coins revealed that they are silver coins from the Lydians, an ancient eastern civilization credited with making the first coins in history.
The collection also includes coins minted in regions such as Tarsus, Side, Aspendos and Soloi-Pompeiopolis. According to experts, these coins reveal Anatolia's decisive role in Mediterranean trade and its central position as an important transit point.
After the identification of the coins, intensive negotiations followed between the greek and turkish authorities, which resulted in the decision for their return.
«This return sends a strong message of commitment to the fight against crimes against cultural heritage.", a spokesman for the Turkish Ministry of Culture told the Hurriyet newspaper. "Enhanced communication between the competent services of the two countries will contribute to the reduction of such incidents. In 2024, a total of 1,149 cultural heritage objects have been returned, while since 2018 the number has risen to 8,953 and since 2002 to 13,268.».
Ancient Lydia is considered the place where the world's first coins were created. Initially, they were simple metal objects with basic stamps, which evolved into artistic works depicting figures from Greek mythology.
The creation of coins was a revolution in trade and contributed to the development of commercial transactions as early as the 6th century BC. The first coins were minted in Lydia, a kingdom in Anatolia with close ties to ancient Greek civilization.
Lydian coins, made of gold and silver, are considered a symbol of the reign of the legendary King Croesus, who is also known for building the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The seized coins will be preserved and preserved at the Istanbul Restoration and Conservation Center and then exhibited at the Archaeological Museum ofof Constantinople.
