Israel, rare 1850-year-old bronze coin found in Haifa waters

During an underwater archaeological survey conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority off the coast of Mount Carmel in Haifa, an extremely rare well-preserved bronze coin was recently found.

The coin was minted during the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) in Alexandria, Egypt. The reverse depicts the zodiac sign of Cancer under a portrait of the goddess Moon. It is inscribed with the date “Year Eight,” the eighth year of Antoninus Pius’ rule, or 144/145 A.D., and belongs to a series of thirteen coins, twelve depicting the different signs of the zodiac and another on which the complete zodiac wheel is depicted.

“This is the first time such a coin has been discovered off the coast of Israel and is a rare addition to the collection of national treasures,” said Jacob Sharvit, director of the Maritime Archaeology Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Israel’s Mediterranean coasts and waters have unearthed many archaeological sites and artifacts that attest to connections in antiquity between Mediterranean ports and countries along the Mediterranean. These finds, lost at sea and missing for hundreds and thousands of years, have been remarkably well preserved; some are extremely rare and their discovery completes parts of the historical puzzle of the country’s past.”

According to Israel Antiquities Authority director Eli Eskosido, “In the last decade, the State of Israel has changed its perception of the sea. Instead of marking the country’s border, the sea is now recognized as an integral part of it in terms of cultural heritage. There are natural resources and cultural assets in Israel’s territorial waters that need to be explored and protected in light of diverse interests and potential development. The maritime survey off Haifa is part of this process.”

Interestingly, the ruler who minted the coin, Antoninus Pius, was a Roman emperor who reigned between 138 and 161 AD. Unlike his predecessors, he was not a military man. His reign was the quietest during the entire Roman Empire and marked the height of the period of “Roman peace” throughout the empire. Antoninus had a different approach to managing the empire, preferring to deal with any foreign crises through provincial governors; in fact, he never left Rome himself. He encouraged and initiated the construction of temples, theaters, and magnificent mausoleums and promoted science and philosophy.

Image: Coin depicting the Moon goddess and under the zodiac sign of Cancer. Photo by Dafna Gazit Israel Antiquities Authority.

Israel, rare 1850-year-old bronze coin found in Haifa waters

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