Aizanoi: An ancient jug containing hundreds of Roman coins has surprised archaeologists in Turkey. The vessel with its silver payload was found buried next to a stream in Kütahya province. Here lie the ruins of Aizanoi, a historic city.
Prof. Dr. Elif Özer describes it in a statement as “the most special silver coin find of recent times”. The jug and its contents were in excellent condition.
651 items of currency were found in total, dating to between 75 – 4 BC, as reported by Live Science and other outlets. 3 terracotta plates were buried with the jug – experts presume this was to hold it in position.
What makes it so special? The faces and imagery depicted on the coins. Referred to by those in the know as a coin album, it represents a financial snapshot of the Roman Republic. Specifically, the late period before it became a legendary Empire ruled by Augustus.
The album was actually discovered in September last year. While Coronavirus has impacted archaeology in many ways, this time it gave experts the excuse to sit down and analyze the haul.
It’s made up of 439 denarii and 212 cistophori. Denarii were apparently worth 10 asses back in the day…a lot of donkey work would be required to earn that sum! Cistophori meanwhile hailed from the city of Pergamum in Turkey’s north west.
Whereas that place was Greek, the coins themselves were minted over in Southern Italy. Intriguingly, one of the pieces is a fake – albeit a historical one, as mentioned on the Pamukkale University website.
Dr. Özer works for the University. She believes the jug was buried at Aizanoi by “a high-ranking soldier”, as told to Smithsonian Magazine . Why would a military man do that? He certainly had his reasons, though what they were will probably never come to light.
Famous faces from the Roman era cast in silver include Mark Antony and Caesar. Shakespeare helped immortalized them in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’. The central romance paved the way to the formation of the Empire. The Bard also wrote ‘Julius Caesar’. His murderer Brutus features on the coins.
