In a landmark act of cultural cooperation, Greece has returned over 1,000 ancient coins to Turkey, marking the first repatriation of its kind between the two countries.
The coins, illegally excavated and smuggled out of Turkey, were seized by Greek customs officials at the Kipi border crossing in 2019.
The collection includes 61 silver staters from various ancient cities and 994 silver Athenian tetradrachms dating back to the 5th century BC. The handover ceremony took place at the Numismatic Museum in Athens, attended by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and her Turkish counterpart, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
This repatriation signifies a significant step in cultural exchange and cooperation between Greece and Turkey, demonstrating a shared commitment to protecting cultural heritage and combating illicit trafficking of antiquities.
The return of these ancient coins to their country of origin highlights the importance of international collaboration in preserving historical artifacts for future generations.