Turkey Receives Return Of 83 Roman Coins From The United States

A total of 83 Roman-era coins smuggled out of Turkey have been returned from the United States, Turkish officials announced last week.

The coins, which date back to the reign of Roman Emperor Maximianus, Konstantinus I, Konstantinus II and Arcadeus, were originally confiscated in the US in 2015.

The repatriation of the coins follows a bilateral agreement in 2021 between Washington and Ankara to protect cultural properties and prevent the trade in antiques.

In an official ceremony in Ankara, Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi, received the coins from Brian Stimler, ad interim's attorney at the US Embassy.

Deputy Minister Yazgi said the transfer was completed "fast, transparent, and efficient", highlighting the historical significance of the artifact as a reflection of the political life and military of the Roman Empire, quoted from Anadolu1 October.

He noted that the coins were printed in Anatolia in the 3rd and 4th centuries.

Since 2002, Turkey has found more than 13,000 smuggled artifacts, Yazgi said.

"This collaboration is an important example for the international community," he said, adding that joint efforts with the US would continue to be expanded.

Meanwhile, Stimmler praised the collaboration between the US Department of Homeland Security Investigation Unit, Turkish law enforcement and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

He said the return of the coins showed cross-border partnerships and strengthened the two countries.