IDF Armored Corps soldier Ido Gardi recently received a glimpse into the world of archaeology when he stumbled upon a rare 1,800-year-old coin during a training exercise, the Israel Antiquities Authority reported in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The coin dates to 158-159 CE and was minted in the city of Geva. It joins eleven such coins in the National Treasures Department collection.
"All the coins were found in northern Israel. This coin was found closest to the place where they were minted," head of the Israel Antiquities Authority's Numismatics Department Dr. Donald Tzvi Ariel said.
The coin bears the head of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius, who ruled from 138–161 CE, on one side, and the Phrygian moon god, Men, on the other.
"The coin discovered is one of the municipal coins minted in the city of Geva," lecturer in classical archaeology at Bar-Ilan University's Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology Dr. Avner Ecker explained, adding that in Roman times, cities were allowed to mint their own coins.
"The year marked on the coin is the year when the municipal council was evidently established, and its citizens were allowed self-government under the Roman Empire. Geva is an ancient settlement, referred to by Josephus as a town located on the foothills at the edge of the Jezreel Valley. Herod [the Great] settled his cavalry forces there," Ecker added.
Gardi reported his find to the National Treasures Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority and received a good citizenship commendation.
"Antiquities are national treasures," inspector for the Antiquities Authority Northern District's robbery prevention unit Nir Distelfeld said.
While antiquities hunting is against the law, anyone who stumbles against an ancient artifact must report it, Distelfeld continued.
"Ido Gardi demonstrated exemplary civic behavior, and we hope that he will act as an example for others who discover ancient finds," Distelfeld observed.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
