Smuggled out of the country in 1984, the coins were returned to Turkey in 1999 after a lengthy legal process and were exhibited at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.Antalya Museum Deputy Director Mustafa Demirel said in a statement made to the Anatolia news agency that the Elmalı coins, found during an illegal excavation in Elmalı in 1984 and then smuggled to the United States, have returned to Antalya after 25 years.
Noting that a decision was made to transfer the coins from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, where they had been exhibited since their return from the United States, to the Antalya Museum, Demirel said 1,679 coins were brought to Antalya a few days ago. He said the coins will be exhibited in a special area in the museum and visitors will be able to see the coins after a special ceremony that will be held on Oct. 26.
The Elmalı coins are remnants of contributions made by ancient Greek city-states, or poleis, in the Mediterranean region to the Delian League, a prototype of NATO. The Delian League, led by Athens, was formed after the invasion of Greece by the Persian Empire. Approximately 150 city-states were members of the league and contributed to its budget. The coins found in Elmalı included contributions made by the city-states of Lycia as well as some unknown dynasties.
The coins had been called the treasure of the century. Among the coins discovered were memorial coins issued to commemorate the Greek victory against the Persians. Only a small number of these coins were ever in circulation. Up until 1984, only 13 of these coins had been discovered; there were 14 found among the Elmalı coins. Significant light was shed on a fairly mysterious chapter in history after the discovery of the Elmalı coins.
The 1,900 silver coins found during the illegal excavation in Elmalı on April 18, 1984, were smuggled abroad; the coins were then sold in auctions held in the US and Europe. Legal proceedings to recover the coins were started when a photo of one of the coins was seen in an auction catalogue. The coins were returned to Turkey in 1999 after this process was completed. İstanbul Today's Zaman with wires
