In a stunning archaeological breakthrough, a humble ceramic jug unearthed at the 5,000-year-old site of Aizanoi in Turkey’s Kutahya province has revealed a dazzling secret: a collection of over 650 rare silver coins from the era of Emperor Augustus. This extraordinary find, described as a “coin album” of the Roman Republic’s final century, has captivated historians and archaeologists alike, shedding new light on the ancient world.
A Treasure Hidden in Plain Sight
The discovery was made during excavations led by Professor Elif Özer of Pamukkale University, who heads the archaeological dig at Aizanoi. The team uncovered 651 silver coins—439 Roman silver denarii and 212 cistophorus coins from the ancient Greek city of Pergamon—carefully preserved inside a ceramic jug sealed with terracotta plates. Found in a waterway that runs through the ancient city, the jug was stumbled upon during a unique riverboat project aimed at allowing visitors to sail through Aizanoi’s ruins, retracing the paths of the Romans.
“This is a very special and unique collection,” Özer told Anadolu Agency. “It’s the most outstanding silver coin collection found in recent times.” The coins, believed to have belonged to a high-ranking Roman soldier, offer a rare glimpse into the economic and cultural landscape of the late Roman Republic, making this find a true archaeological gem.
Aizanoi: The Second Ephesus of Turkey
Nestled 57 kilometers from Kütahya’s city center, Aizanoi is often hailed as Turkey’s “second Ephesus” for its remarkable historical significance. Added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List in 2012, this ancient city has been a hub of human activity since 3000 BC. Captured by the Roman Empire in 133 BC, Aizanoi flourished during the second and third centuries AD, becoming a prominent center of trade and religion in the Byzantine era.
The city boasts an array of breathtaking ruins, including the Temple of Zeus, one of the best-preserved temples dedicated to the Greek god in all of Anatolia. Other notable features include an ancient theater and stadium, a gymnasium, five bridges, a trade building, cemeteries, two public baths, and a sacred cave known as Metre Steune, used for worship before the first century BC. Rediscovered by European travelers in 1824, Aizanoi continues to reveal its secrets through ongoing excavations.
A Legacy Unearthed
The archaeological team from Pamukkale University, which has been working at Aizanoi since 2011, began restoration efforts in June 2020 to repair damage caused by landslides and earthquakes. Their predecessors, from the German Archaeological Institute, excavated the site from 1970 to 2011, laying the groundwork for today’s discoveries. The unearthing of the coin-filled jug marks a pinnacle moment in the site’s storied history, offering a tangible connection to the lives of those who walked its streets millennia ago.
Now housed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, these priceless coins are poised to captivate the world. Professor Özer and her team are preparing journal articles and books in Turkish and English to share this remarkable discovery with a global audience, ensuring that Aizanoi’s legacy endures.
A Window into the Past
The discovery of this “coin album” is more than a treasure—it’s a time capsule, offering a vivid snapshot of a pivotal era in human history. As visitors prepare to sail through Aizanoi’s ancient waterways, they’ll follow in the footsteps of Romans, marveling at a city that continues to unveil its mysteries. Who could have imagined that an ordinary jug, hidden beneath the earth for centuries, would hold such an extraordinary key to the past?