Abstract:

Zeytinliada, which is located near the Erdek District of Balıkesir Province, covers an area of approximately 9 decares. It has been documented with archaeological evidence that there are many religious buildings in Zeytinliada, where excavations were carried out between 2006 and 2016, and that the earliest settlement on the island dates back to the 4th century AD. The data obtained from the archaeological studies carried out on the island, which was the scene of intense settlement in the Early Byzantine Period, indicate that the island was inhabited continuously until the 14th century. A total of 211 coins were found in 3 different structures/areas in Zeytinliada excavations. In this study, the coins unearthed in the octagonal chapel unearthed during the 2010 excavations in Zeytinliada were examined. Of the 108 coins found in the chapel, 57 were identified and the remaining 51 coins were dated by considering their metrological features. The catalog of the identified coins was created, and the unidentified coins were listed with their measurements. The coins, whose emperor and mint wereidentified, were minted in the name of 7 different emperors in 5 different mints. The earliest dated coins were minted in 498-518 AD, and the latest in 613-614 AD. Coins minted in bronze are in Follis, Half Follis, Decanummium and Pentanummium units. The coins found in the chapel were compared with the other finds in the area and the usage periods of the chapel were determined.