Ancient Coins Returning Home to Greece

Ancient Greek coins dating as far back as 515 BC to be exhibited at Athens Numismatic Museum.

Pictured (l-r): Silver stater of Dikaia, Thrace; silver stater of Locri Opunti; silver didrachm of Euboia; silver stater of Thebes, Boeotia; and silver stater of Thebes, Boeotia

“The coins returned to us today are of remarkable beauty and great archeological importance,” said the Ambassador in thanking District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. for their return. “They will be displayed in their birthplace for all to admire, our citizens and the millions of people from around the world who visit Greece.”


“As tokens of the world’s oldest democracy, these coins are priceless,” said District Attorney Vance. “I am confident that these coins will be of more public benefit in an open place of study and scholarship than locked away in a safe.”


The five coins were confiscated by the DA’s Office, pursuant to a joint investigation with agents from Homeland Security Investigations, in connection with a case of illicit possession of stolen coins. The Greek pieces returned to Greece are:

• A silver stater of Dikaia, Thrace (c. 515 – 480 B.C.) with the head of Herakles on the obverse side and an incuse square on the reverse side
• A silver stater of Locri Opunti (c. 369 – 338 B.C.) with the head of Demeter on the obverse side and the head of Ajax, son of Oileus, on the reverse side
• A silver didrachm of Euboea (c. 375 – 357 B.C.) with a cow on the obverse side and the head of the nymph Euboea on the reverse side
• A silver stater of Thebes, Boeotia (c. 405 – 395 B.C.) with the face of Dionysus on the obverse side and a shield on the reverse side
• A silver stater of Thebes, Boeotia (c. 395 – 338 B.C.) with a shield on the obverse side and a crater on the reverse side

The five pieces will close a gap in Greece’s national collection at the Numismatic Museum where they will also be available for study by scholars and historians.