A secret stash of gold discovered in Turkey: The surprising discovery rewrites the history of mercenaries
Coins were discovered buried in a small pot dating back to the 5th century BC in present-day Turkey; they were intended to pay mercenaries.
Archaeologists have uncovered a secret stash of gold coins in western Turkey, a discovery that challenges long-held ideas about ancient warfare. The coins, buried inside a small clay pot, date back to the 5th century B.C. and may have been intended to pay mercenaries during fierce battles between Greek and Persian forces.
A rare discovery beneath ancient Sardis
The treasure was found near Sardis, an influential city just northeast of the ancient Greek settlement of Notion. This region was a flashpoint in wars that shifted control between Greek and Persian empires for centuries.
“The discovery of such a valuable find in a controlled archaeological excavation is very rare,” said Christopher Ratté, professor of ancient Mediterranean art and archaeology at the University of Michigan and director of the Notion Archaeological Survey. “No one ever buries a hoard of coins, especially precious metal coins, without intending to retrieve it. So only the gravest misfortune can explain the preservation of such a treasure.”
Why these coins point to mercenaries
Greek historian Xenophon once wrote that a single daric — the Persian gold coin discovered in the hoard — was equal to a month’s pay for a soldier. That means the stash could have been set aside as wages for hired fighters.
Although Ratté cautions that the evidence is “circumstantial,” the timeline fits. Notion and other nearby Greek cities fell under Persian control in the mid-6th century B.C., briefly returned to Greek hands, and then were recaptured by Persia in the early 4th century B.C. Alexander the Great would not conquer the region until 334 B.C.
Battles, mercenaries, and lost wealth
That turbulent history made the region a frontline of conflict. Ancient sources describe how Greek and Persian leaders frequently relied on mercenaries to tilt the balance of power. In such a setting, amassing enough gold coins to pay troops was essential — but defeat could mean losing everything.
The newly uncovered pot of coins may be a direct trace of that reality: soldiers waiting for their pay, leaders scrambling for resources, and one ill-fated attempt to safeguard a fortune that ended up hidden underground for over 2,000 years.
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