Rare Gold Coins Found In The City Of David
In December of 2008, a British volunteer took time off of work to visit Israel and take part in an archaeological dig that was going on in Jerusalem National Park. She found 264 ancient gold coins that date back to the early 7th century, which was during the Byzantine Empire. The fact that the coins were found on the first day of Hanukkah made the discovery all the more special for archaeologists and researchers in Jerusalem. The coins, which were found just below the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, are a well known type of coin from this time.
The coins are more than 1,400 years old, and were found in the City of David in the Giv’ati Car Park. This site has given other finds, including a preserved gold earring with precious stones and pearls. The coins were found in a collapsed building, which has yet to be identified. Until the dig is able to carry on and be completed, it may not be known what the building was used for or who owned it. This is a relatively new dig, so the discovery was a huge surprise.
It is presumed that the coins were buried in a niche in the walls of the building, mostly because they weren’t in any type of container or box. They bear the image of Heraclius, who led the Byzantine Empire from 610 to 641. Although there were many coins minted during this time, this particular find is reminiscent of a well known minted coin.
There is still much to discover about these coins, including their value today, as well as whether they are qualified as “treasure” or not. If they are, they will likely be commissioned by a museum, and the funds will be paid to the company that is managing the archaeological dig.
Finding or investing in gold coins is exciting for anyone. When it comes to finding such historic coins that hold significance in world history, it’s even more eventful. For a woman who just took a month of work to volunteer on the dig for fun, this is the discovery of a lifetime. She is an engineer in England, and came to Jerusalem specifically to deal with the dig, which turned out to work out in her favor.
Considering that it is one of the only finds of its type to have been discovered in Jerusalem, this is a very big deal for the City of David.
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