Posted on 08/13/2005 11:44:21 AM PDT by blam
Archeologists uncover ancient coins in the heart of Athens
Thu Aug 11,11:46 AM ET
ATHENS (AFP) - Scores of silver coins dating back well over two millennia have been unearthed in the heart of Athens, officials announced.
More than five kilos (11 pounds) of silver pieces dating primarily from the 4th century BC were discovered in an excavation project of the American School of Archeology, a statement from the ministry of culture said.
Some 45 of the silver pieces are believed to date back to the 5th century BC.
The discovery at the Athens Agora -- the chief marketplace and ancient center of the city's civic life -- is of "considerable importance" because it represents one of the most sizable finds of its kind, the statement said.
The new discovery will be "an important and useful source of information about the money of antiquity and the economic life of the times," the text said.
The total number of coins uncovered has yet to be specified.
The Agora, situated at the foot of the Acropolis, is one of the most important excavation sites in the Greek capital.
GGG Ping.
The years around 450 BC were very active for the citizens of Athens. They commonly let 'allies' send money if they had it rather than troops and ships.
There are houses at the foot of the acropolis which have roads that are still in use and date further back. You can literally walk down a street that existed before christ was born.
The bottom row of the picture has coins with an owl on them - these must be the coins of Athens republic proper. Upper row coins with some faces on them must be of the later period.
What an incredible thing that is.
I wonder how much those coins are worth today? I am not talking about the real value by weight of the silver by the value as historical items.
And if you go to Jerusalem, you can walk down the SAME streets that Christ walked down.
Any dated 500 BC?
Probably the best evidence yet that lawyers and politicians were around in 500 B.C.
500 bc.
Possibly hidden to keep them out of the hands of the Persians when Xerxes burned the city.
Wonder what might have happened to the owners as they never reclaimed their coins!
Value?Would be nice to have one,wouldn't it?Having a coin that was used in ancient times?I'll bet they won't be cheap.I've seen Roman coins for sale,very reasonably priced.Did some research on the net.I was very surprised.Apparently Rome cranked out a lot of coins,esp lesser value denominations that still turn up.
ahhh those must be the NEW streets.
;-)
The whole CITY is ontop of an archeological dig.
Some of the modern buildings literally have glass sidewalks to allow the public to see the archeological buildings below. (the Athens Stock Exchange for one)
The Athens metro was YEARS behind schedule because of "dig, dig, dig, stop, study, excavate, dig, dig,stop, study, excavate,dig, stop, study, excavate, dig, (repeat...)
You really should wonder how much of this stuff is in private hands because somebody was doing something in their back yards.
These are Athenian tetradrachms. The head is Athena and the 'tail' is the owl, her symbol. These coins were the trade dollars of their time. Beautiful examples may go for $1000 or so, but you can get a nice one for $400. A bit high for my price range.
Roman coins--little coppers dime to penny sized can be had for $1 or so. A project I do with my 8th graders involves cleaning and identifying Roman coins. I get them (nice ones) for $2 each.
That sounds great. I wonder of the kids appreciate they are handling something was used 1500 to 2000 years ago?
I can't afford to buy any either, just wondering of the value. Thanks for the information.
That's right! I was fascinated to read a Roman's account of his trip to the pyramids in Egypt. The pyramids were as ancient to him as he is to us. It was a wonderful tag-team through history.
Just check out the shops in Russell Square across from the Bristish Museum in London. Plenty of it for sale there.
They're mine. I buried them and forgot where I dug the hole. Who do I call to claim them?
1-800-don't axe Gary
Call the Athens police, they'll tell you where to go.
To me, it looks like it is only three coins. Upper row is the obverse. Face of Athena, maybe? The lower row is in the same order, showing the reverse, with the Athenian owl, and "A-Th-E" in Greek letters.
What is odd to me is that the two end ones have the reverse image skewed, rather than either 'upside down' (like our Washington quarters*) or the top of both heads facing the same edge.
*Hold a quarter with George rightside up, index finger on the top, and thumb on the bottom, so it can rotate, and turn it around that axis so the the eagle (or state logo) is facing you; it is upside down. If it isn't, check again VERY carefully, then head for a coin dealer, as there are some rare ones that were struck with the reverse 'upside down' so the 'top' of both images is toward the same edge.
Athena was a goddess, and for such unflattering portraiture (remember her part in Paris' apple story?) would have obliterated the city and probably sunk the site under the Aegean sea... I am not sure that these are the same 3 coins depicted. Before the introduction of mechanical coin presses the alignment of obverse and reverse was always haphazard, as the die was held by human hand.
I doubt anyone would look good, if they hade been buried almost 2,500 years.
From the article: The discovery at the Athens Agora -- the chief marketplace and ancient center of the city's civic life...
The Mint has been located in southeastern corner of the Agora because some of the materials of minting were found near this building. Athens was famous for its coinage.
On the obverse there is the head of Athena. On the reverse, the owl (associated with Athena), a sprig of olive (sacred to Athena) upper left and alpha (A), theta (TH), epsilon1 (E), the first three letters of Athena and Athens.
(Now, THAT is an 'ugly goddess image!)
More detail, including pictures of Athenian coins of different ages including approximately those of the article: Link
Looks familiar. Ah hah...
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Some of the temples had small treasuries where the offerings were kept. There was one on the Acropolis itself as I recall and also I remember seeing one at the ruins in Delphi. The Acropolis overlooks this site. There is major excavation going on in the agora area now and some new buildings have been discovered in recent years. There is a small, very nicely preserved temple within view of the reconstructed agora colonade and I don't doubt others existed in the area. Clearly there was a lot of commerce and religious activity in this area, so money was probably banked there in one of the buildings.
OH--MY--GOSH, that is so funny! LOL!
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