Mint in Chersones, Ancient mint building in Chersonesus Taurica, Sevastopol.
The Mint in Chersones is an ancient structure built from massive stone blocks fitted together without mortar and contains four basement rooms. A corridor with two stone staircases connects these spaces, showing how the builders organized this coin production facility.
This facility dates to the fourth and third centuries BCE and served as the main currency production center for the ancient city. Excavations in 1904 uncovered the structure and found 43 bronze coin blanks inside, showing how the city produced its money.
Coins made here displayed local gods and city symbols, showing how this community controlled its own wealth and trade. These pieces of metal were statements of independence and pride for the ancient people living in this place.
You can walk through a portion of the original basement level where the mint operated, though larger sections remain covered to protect them from damage. Wear comfortable shoes because the floors are uneven and you will be moving through underground spaces.
Silver coin production here stopped around 90 BCE, but the mint came back to life during a war between Rome and the Bosporus kingdom in 45 CE. The new coins made at that time showed the Victory goddess, marking a shift in the region's politics and loyalties.
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