DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

Ancient Cypriot silver coin found on Ashdod's shore offers new insight into 2,500-year-old trade

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • An ancient Cypriot silver Siglos coin, dating to the mid-5th century BCE, was discovered on an Ashdod beach, marking the first such find in Israel.
  • The coin, minted in Salamis, Cyprus during the Persian Empire's reign, is unusual because it was found intact and on the coast, offering potential insights into ancient trade routes.
  • Researchers believe the coin provides significant information about trade and movement between Cyprus and the Land of Israel during that historical period.

An ancient Cypriot silver coin, believed to be around 2,500 years old, has been unearthed on an Ashdod beach, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced. This discovery marks the first time a coin of its kind has been found in Israel.

At first glance it looked to be made of silver, but a closer examination showed it to actually be of metal that was only plated with silver; a known phenomenon in Cypriot silver coins from this period, given the shortage of silver on the island.

— Yanniv David LevyResearcher and curator at the IAA’s Coin Department, explaining the coin's composition.

The coin, identified as a silver Siglos from the mid-5th century BCE, was found by Avi Chaprak, Deputy Director of the Ashdod Beaches Department, during a routine search for lost items. Initially appearing to be silver, further examination revealed it was metal plated with silver, a known characteristic of Cypriot coins from that era due to silver shortages on the island.

Coins of this size and value from the Persian period are rare altogether in the archaeological record. Usually, silver coins of this size were not preserved intact. Over time, they were cut into small pieces, for use as local trade currency.

— Yanniv David LevyResearcher and curator at the IAA’s Coin Department, discussing the rarity of the find.

Minted in the ancient city of Salamis on Cyprus during the Persian Empire's rule, the coin features a recumbent ram on one side and a ram's head on the other, with inscriptions in Cypriot syllabic script. Researchers noted that coins of this size and value from the Persian period are rare, as they were often cut into pieces for local currency. The discovery of a complete coin on the coast is considered particularly unusual and historically significant.

Furthermore, evidence of such use is known mainly from inland sites in Israel. Therefore, the discovery of a complete coin from the coastal area is thus unusual on all accounts, and of special historical importance.

— Yanniv David LevyResearcher and curator at the IAA’s Coin Department, highlighting the significance of the coastal discovery.

Experts suggest the coin offers valuable evidence of ancient trade connections between Cyprus and the Land of Israel. Dr. Evangeline Markou, an expert in ancient Cypriot coinage, stated that while coins from Salamis circulated in the eastern Mediterranean, finds with exact provenances are rare. This particular coin could provide significant information about trade ties and movement between the two regions during the 5th century BCE.

finds with an exact provenance are rarer, and therefore this coin potentially offers significant information about trade ties and movement between Cyprus and the Land of Israel during this period.

— Dr. Evangeline MarkouSenior researcher at the Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation, commenting on the coin's importance for understanding trade.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog