Greek Police Seize Thousands of Ancient Coins

Greek police have recovered thousands of ancient coins after smashing a large antiquity smuggling ring, media said on Saturday.

Police raided homes in 13 prefectures, mainly in northern Greece, and made 35 arrests. Thousands of ancient coins were found as well as metal detectors, the in.gr news website said.

Greece, rich in archaeological heritage, has been targeted by illegal antiquity traders for decades.

Over 70 items were stolen last month from the Ancient Olympic Games museum in Olympia when two masked men knocked out the alarm and then overpowered the building's sole female guard when she arrived for her shift.

A month earlier, thieves had broken into the Athens National Gallery and stolen a painting personally gifted by Spanish-born master Pablo Picasso to Greece, in addition to two other artworks.