Burial treasure of 44 Byzantine gold coins found in nature reserve in Israel
Categories: Historical news
Burial treasure of44 Byzantine gold coins found in nature reserve in Israel
Coins from the hoard were minted by the ByzantineEmpire during the reigns of Emperor Phocas (AD 602 to 610) and EmperorHeraclius (610 to 641 AD). All pieces of money were solid gold coins, whichwere the common currency during the Byzantine era (circa 330 to 1453 AD).
Experts fromthe Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) dated the latest coins in thecache to the time of the Muslim conquest of Byzantine Palestine, which occurredin A.D. 635, according to a statement. "Most of the coins are of theByzantine Emperor Heraclius," Gabriela Bijovsky, a numismatic expertwith the IAA, said in the statement.
"Andwhat is particularly interesting is that in his early years as emperor, onlyhis portrait was depicted on the coin, while after a short time, images of hissons also appear. Someone really may follow the growing up of his sons - frominfancy to infancy his image appears to be of the same size as his father, whois depicted with a long beard."
The coin wasfound locked in the base of a stone wall and experts believe it was left bysomeone who was on the run during the Muslim conquest. Yoav Lerer, IAA'sdirector of excavations, said in the statement, "The discovery reflectsa specific moment in time, when we can imagine the owner hiding his fortune indanger of war, one day to retrieve his property. Looking forward toreturning."
"Inretrospect, we know he was less fortunate." In addition to coins, researchersfound building ruins; water channels and pipes; a kiln for making pottery;bronze coins; and pieces of pottery, glass and metal artifacts. "Thediscovery of coin hoarding may also shed light on the economy of the city ofBanias during the last 40 years of Byzantine rule," Lerer said.