türkçe links to original Turkish article
(Hürriyet Newspaper, 20 April 2026)
And no need for novocaine!
A Roman-era piggy bank found in the ancient city of Side, which
remained intact for 18 centuries, caused astonishment. First, an ENT
doctor examined it with a camera, then an X-ray revealed it contained
495 silver coins. One of the coins, which were removed one by one
using dental instruments, was found to be a 'fake'. (!)
Within the scope of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's "Legacy for
the Future" project, archaeological excavations at the ancient city of
Side, led by Prof. Dr. Feriştah Alanyalı from Anadolu University, have
gained momentum in recent years. In the excavations in Manavgat
district of Antalya, the historical fabric of the city has been significantly
restored, and valuable artifacts have been unearthed. During our visit
to the ancient city of Side, we listened to the stories of how these
artifacts were discovered and their historical significance from the
Head of Excavations, Alanyalı, and the Director of the Side Museum,
Melih Kılınç.
The Side Museum underwent changes in its indoor and outdoor
exhibitions last year, adapting to modern museum practices. Among
the prominent artifacts in the museum's new exhibition area is a Roman
piggy bank dating back to the third century AD. This rare piggy bank,
which has survived intact to this day, contained 495 silver coins. One
bronze coin, later revealed to be a counterfeit from that period, was
also found. The counterfeit coin found in the piggy bank is also one
of the first examples of counterfeiting in the ancient world.
Excavation director Prof. Dr. Alanyalı and Side Museum Director Kılınç
told Hürriyet the story of how the piggy bank, which could be the
subject of a film, was discovered in 2012.
Modern "dental archeology".
Prof. Dr. Feriştah Alanyalı: "Our archaeologist colleagues found a piggy
bank during the excavation. It was covered with soil. They brought it to
the excavation house. They said, 'Professor, this is very heavy.' We have
a professor who studies coins. He said, 'Feriştah, let's go to Akdeniz
Hospital. I know a doctor there.'
We also took our Ministry representative with us. We knew an ENT
doctor there. We got our tickets as if we were registering a patient.
The doctor looked inside the piggy bank with a small camera used to
look inside the ear. We saw that it was overflowing with money and
coins. Then we got another ticket. We went to the X-ray department.
We had an X-ray taken. It was completely full. Then we immediately
handed it over to the museum. Our museum restorer kept the piggy
bank in a solution for days. Then he took out the coins one by
one with tweezers. There were 495 pieces. One of them was fake.,
It contained symbols belonging to different emperors. We had never
seen such a complete piggy bank before. They usually break."
When science branches merge, wonders ensue.
Melih Kılınç: “This is a coin box from the Roman period, containing
silver coins. It was found in the Archeopark area opposite the Ancient
Theatre. The coins were removed one by one through the opening
where the coins were placed, without the box being broken in any way.
Our restorer kept them in a chemical solution, and they were removed
as they dissolved using dental instruments and tweezers. These coin
boxes are not usually seen intact like this. Because they were broken
in ancient times, as well. This is one of the only examples that has
survived intact to this day. We examined all 495 silver coins individually.
One of them was a bronze coin, a forgery from that period. There was
counterfeiting back then too. Of course, numismatist Ahmet Tolga Tek
said this. He said, ‘It's an ancient forgery.’ We are keeping the forgery
in our storage. There is no forgery in the metal, it's bronze, but its
forgery within its own period has been determined. The coins also
have portraits of Roman Emperors and Roman Empresses on them."
