ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

What Shards of a 2,500-year-old Silver Coin Reveal About Economic Activity in 7th Century BC

Likely minted in the Aegean, the coin is one of the earliest ever found in Israel.
PUBLISHED FEB 11, 2024
Image Source: Photo by Michel Setboum | Getty Images
Image Source: Photo by Michel Setboum | Getty Images

Archaeologists have uncovered a rare 2,500-year-old silver coin near Jerusalem. Dating back to the Achaemenid-Persian ruling period, the coin was found cut in half, providing insights into the nascent stages of coinage in ancient Judea. Robert Kool, a coin expert at the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), expressed the rarity of this find, stating that only a handful of such coins have been discovered in archaeological excavations across the country. These coins, minted during a time when currency usage was in its infancy, offer a unique perspective on the evolving economic landscape of the region.

Image Source: Rare silver coin discovered in the Judean Hills. Courtesy Emil Aladjem, IAA.
Image Source: Rare silver coin discovered in the Judean Hills Photo by Emil Aladjem, IAA.

The discovery took place during an excavation preceding the expansion of a roadway approximately 10 miles southwest of Jerusalem. In addition to the coin's discovery, the IAA revealed the unearthing of a four-room house dating back to the First Temple period. The archaeological site showcased signs of its historical utilization for commercial activities during that earlier era. The site, situated in a rural area of the ancient Kingdom of Judea, provides a window into the past, with evidence suggesting the establishment of a settlement dating back to the seventh century B.C.

Within the building, archaeologists unearthed a one-shekel stone weight, with an approximate weight of 0.4 ounces. The weight bore an incised marking, revealing the Egyptian hieratic abbreviation for shekel. In the region, this stone served as a standardized weight, indicative of meticulous measurements in local markets. Such stones were used for weighing valuable commodities like spices or metals.

Image Source: Photo by David Silverman | Getty Images
Image Source: Photo by David Silverman | Getty Images

Kool highlighted the significance of these coins, which were initially minted outside of Israel, specifically in ancient Greek regions, Cyprus, and Turkey. As the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. began, these coins appeared at various sites in Israel. However, the coin's deliberate division into two halves reveals that the use of coins was not yet universal during this period. This ancient practice, reminiscent of Viking "hacksilver" or "hacksilbur," reflects the varying methods of evaluating currency at the time.

The coin featured a square stamp pressed into one side, distinguishing itself from coins that employed more sophisticated techniques like raised stamped images. Eli Escusido, the director of the IAA, believes that the visual details, inscriptions, and dates on these early coins are invaluable sources of archaeological information. He noted that through objects like coins, it becomes possible to trace human thought processes and observe the continuity of economic habits spanning thousands of years.

Image Source:
Image Source: Facebook | Israel Antiquities Authority

According to the AAI, the earliest coins are believed to have been minted around the seventh century B.C. in Lydia, present-day Turkey, and in the ancient Greek cities along the Ionian coast. Initially crafted from electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver, coins eventually transitioned to being made of pure silver in the subsequent centuries. The recently unearthed coin near Jerusalem offers a tangible link to the economic practices of ancient Judea and the broader historical context of currency development.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
The deal ultimately fell apart as the seller, Scotty was looking to get $375,000.
17 hours ago
The guest was blown away by the six-figure appraisal for his father's John Falter illustration.
22 hours ago
Harvey just couldn't believe that the contestant could come up with an answer like that.
1 day ago
Antoinette's win was even more special because she needed a car more than anything at that point.
1 day ago
The player, Catrice Sandt, nearly blew the Bonus Round puzzle by saying too many words in the end.
2 days ago
The co-founders of Nature's Wild Berry left the Sharks in shock with their miraculous product.
2 days ago
The contestant named Whitney could barely control her emotions as she celebrated with Ryan Seacrest.
2 days ago
The player named Kathy Young missed out on the Showcase Showdown as she had to leave.
3 days ago
Harrison closed a mega deal by scooping up three post cards for the price of one.
3 days ago
The guest who brought his father's prized possesion, had already made up his mind.
3 days ago
Harvey got a genius solution to avoid asking an awkward question to Carson Kressley's family member.
4 days ago
The player could barely control her excitement as she had a near-perfect game on the show.
4 days ago
Harrison knew it was too good of a collection to let go, and he decided to raise the stakes.
5 days ago
The guest who had little no idea about his family heirloom was shocked to know its significance.
5 days ago
Despite making a higher than usual offer, Harrison failed to close the deal.
5 days ago
The guest regretted that she wouldn't be able to keep the highly valued item in her home anymore.
5 days ago
They also triggered a showdown between Mark Cuban and Daniel Lubetsky before closing the deal.
6 days ago
As Heather took a second to solve the final puzzle, Seacrest admitted she made it look easy.
6 days ago
Carey suffered a similar snafu a few months ago while playing the same game of 'Bullseye'.
7 days ago
Fans also share some tips that could've helped Bain win the bonus round but it was too late.
7 days ago