Smuggled Roman Coins Get Returned to Türkiye from US

(MENAFN) A total of 83 ancient coins from the Roman era, which had been illegally transported out of Türkiye, have been successfully returned from the United States, Turkish authorities announced on Sunday.

These coins, which originated from the time of Roman emperors Maximianus, Constantine I, Constantine II, and Arcadius, were originally confiscated in the US back in 2015.

The return of these artifacts was made possible due to a bilateral pact signed in 2021 between the governments of Washington and Ankara.

This agreement was designed to protect cultural heritage and combat the illegal trade of antiquities.

During an official event in Ankara, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye, Gokhan Yazgi, formally received the coins from Brian Stimmler, who serves as charge d’affaires ad interim at the US Embassy.

Yazgi emphasized that the handover process was conducted “swiftly, transparently and efficiently,” underlining the cultural value of these items as symbols of the Roman Empire’s governance and military history.

He pointed out that these coins were produced in Anatolia during the 3rd and 4th centuries, showcasing the region’s historical significance in Roman times.

Since 2002, Türkiye has managed to reclaim over 13,000 cultural artifacts that had been smuggled abroad, Yazgi stated.

He described the recent collaboration as “an important example for the international community,” and expressed optimism that cooperative initiatives with the United States would continue to grow.

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