Jul 14 2010
Rare coin from Biblical era found in Israel
ISRAEL– Dr. Rami Arav was very excited when his one of his researchers from West Virginia University student Alexis Whitley uncovered a rare gold coin during excavation work in the city of Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee in Israel.
Rami Arav is the director of excavation and research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Bethsaida Excavations Project, a 24-year effort to reveal the archaeological mysteries of the biblical-era city.
The coin, which weighs 7 grams, is 97.6% gold. However, the find was unexpected because Bethsaida primarily was home to humble fishermen. Arav also said somebody must have been doing good business a little over 100 years after the birth of Christ.
The gold coin, about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, carries the image of Antoninus Pius, the 15th Roman emperor, who reigned between A.D. 138 and 161.
“Before newspapers, coins fulfilled the job of disseminating information. In our case, Antoninus wanted to announce that the Senate designated him to the position of a consul for the second time. This position was among the highest at Rome.” said Arav.
The Bethsaida coin is the first Antoninus Pius gold coin excavated in Israel, and as far as he knows, it’s the first discovery of this particular kind of coin.
Archaeologists have found many other coins announcing the news of Antoninus Pius’s appointment, but none bears the same picture on the reverse side, where the goddess Pietas stands before an altar.
It is hard to put a monetary value on the coin, Arav said.
“This type of a coin was never sold in the market because it is so rare,” he said. “It may go for as much as people will be able to pay for it.” Dr. Rami Arav stated.
For now, the coin, along with the rest of the Bethsaida finds, considered to be the heritage of the State of Israel — will go to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Its ultimate destination probably will be the Israel Museum in Jerusalem along with many other outstanding finds.
This story is in reference to a article from the Omaha World Herald.
