A total of 1,055 ancient coins were returned today to Turkey, the country of origin of the monetary “treasure” which was seized by the customs authorities of Evros Gardens in July 2019. These are 61 silver staters (bidrachma), coins of cities of Pamphylia, Cilicia, Ionia, Cyprus, but also of Aegina and Milos, and 994 silver Athenian tetradrachms, including one hypocopper, with dates of mintage ranging from the Beginnings to the end of the 5th century. B.C..

​The Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, with the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy ​

“The protection of cultural heritage can only be achieved through cooperation, mutual assistance and mutual understanding between peoples and states. Respecting and protecting cultural heritage is a national responsibility and a global moral commitment. We are all co-responsible for saving our culture and our historical memory”, said today the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, from the Hesperides hall of the Numismatic Museum, during the ceremony of returning the confiscated coins, products of illegal excavation and trafficking, in the presence of the minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

“These coins were products of illegal import into Greece from Turkey. According to the Greek experts of the Numismatic Museum, they are part of the monetary treasure that was hidden at the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 4th century BC. in Asia Minor. The same conclusion was reached by the Turkish experts, to whom the competent service of the Ministry of Culture brought into consideration all the documents of the documentary material. “Both sides have confirmed the illegal circulation of the coins from Turkey to Greece,” informed the minister.

“The current delivery of coins in Turkey is in accordance with the provisions of the 1970 UNESCO International Convention on Measures to Prohibit and Prevent the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, as well as in accordance with the Protocol for the prevention and prevention of the illegal import, export and trafficking and transfer of ownership of cultural goods, signed by the two our countries on March 4, 2013 in Istanbul”, added L. Mendoni, who on the occasion of the event expressed her thanks to the Turkish minister “for the support that your country consistently provides to my homeland, regarding our national request of the reunification of the sculptures of the Parthenon in Athens”.

“The placement of Zeynep Boz, based on your instructions, on the last Intergovernmental Commission of UNESCO was a catalyst. It is fortunate that the international community is increasingly aware that the illicit trafficking of cultural goods is not just a form of criminal activity, but a complex and well-networked global organized crime enterprise, with many consequences and ramifications, that still manages to resist the coordinated international efforts to combat it. We will continue to tirelessly work and cooperate, on a bilateral and multilateral level, to combat antiquities theft and the illegal trafficking of cultural goods”, pointed out Mrs. Mendoni.

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy spoke of a “very important repatriation”, the first from Greece to Turkey, who praised the importance of “bilateral cooperation, which has borne fruit”, but also cooperation with international organizations. “Our two countries, together, should fight illegal trafficking and have close ties,” underlined the Turkish minister, who also referred to the Greek request for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures. “We want with all our hearts for them to be repatriated and for the Greek people to have them, because they belong to them. We look forward to when we can visit them together, which I hope will be shortly,” said Mr. Ersoy, who did not fail to thank, among others, L. Mendoni and all the agencies of Greece for their participation in this common struggle.