Newsletters
Eighty-three Roman-era coins smuggled abroad through illegal means have been returned to Türkiye under a joint effort by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Directorate General of Cultural Heritage and Museums and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The coins, seized in the United States in 2015, were examined and determined to date back to the reigns of Emperors Maximianus, Constantine I, Constantine II and Arcadius.
They were minted in the Anatolian mints of the Roman Empire.
The restitution followed a 2021 bilateral agreement between Türkiye and the U.S. to protect cultural property.
Under the agreement, it was decided that the 83 historical coins would be repatriated to their country of origin.
The artifacts were handed over at a ceremony at the Ankara Republic Museum to Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi by U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires Brian Stimmler.
Speaking at the ceremony, Yazgi recalled that last week, Türkiye and the U.S. held a joint workshop on the prevention of cultural property smuggling.
He said he was honored to announce the return of 83 cultural artifacts following the event, describing the restitution as a product of the 2021 agreement.
“Today’s restitution is yet another concrete example of how productive, effective, and successful this agreement has been,” Yazgi said.
“Thanks to this strong cooperation, the process was carried out quickly, transparently, and effectively, ensuring the safe return of our artifacts to our country.”
Yazgi said the coins, minted in the third and fourth centuries, are significant cultural assets that reflect the political and military dynamism of the Roman Empire.
He stressed the importance of international cooperation in combating cultural property smuggling.
Yazgi noted that over 13,000 artifacts have been returned to Türkiye since 2002, calling it a “concrete achievement of international cooperation and shared responsibility.”
“This strong cooperation between Türkiye and the United States sets an exemplary model not only for the two countries but also for the international community,” he said.
“I believe this partnership will develop further in the coming period and inspire other countries as well.”
Yazgi added that Türkiye would continue to play a leading role in protecting cultural heritage by strengthening international cooperation and thanked those who contributed to the restitution.
Stimmler emphasized the importance of cultural heritage cooperation, calling the restitution a tangible demonstration of long-term bilateral efforts.
He said HSI, Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Turkish law enforcement have “worked shoulder to shoulder for the return of hundreds of stolen artifacts,” describing the partnership as a cross-border effort that strengthens both countries.
Stimmler also thanked the institutions fighting cultural property smuggling and praised Türkiye for supporting last week’s workshop, expressing hope that cooperation will deepen further in the future.
1 min read
3 min read
