Near the remains of an ancient Christian city, archaeologists recently discovered a collection of valuable old jewelry and gold coins.
The treasure was discovered in July in the ancient city of Hippos, which is close to the Sea of Galilee. During the Byzantine era, the city served as a prominent bishop’s seat.
According to a press release from the University of Haifa obtained by Fox News Digital in October, the collection includes 97 pure gold coins, along with “dozens of fragments of gold earrings adorned with pearls, semi-precious stones, and glass.”
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Edie Lipsman, a metal detectorist on the excavation team, found the cache by chance. The detector’s signal grew stronger and coins started to show up after a stone shifted between two walls.
Lipsman stated that the device “went wild” at the time.
“I was shocked to see gold coins appearing one after another,” he stated.
The coins, which are remarkably well-preserved, come in a range of values. Some are solidi, or full value, while others are halves and thirds.
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The collection, which includes coins dating from the reign of Emperor Justin I in the 520s A.D. to the early reign of Emperor Heraclius around 610 A.D., is over 1,500 years old.
According to the release, “Among the coins was an extremely rare tremissis, likely minted in Cyprus around the end of 610 by Emperor Heraclius the Elder and his son during their revolt against Emperor Phocas.”
“This is only the second coin of its kind ever found in Israel.”
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The university stated that no hoard of this size had ever been discovered at the site in the previous 26 years of excavations at Hippos.
Michael Eisenberg, the excavation’s leader, stated that the hoard is among the biggest Byzantine-era caches discovered on dry land in Israel.
“Its distinctiveness is due to the combination of jewelry and gold coins from the reigns of various emperors,” he stated. “Additionally, remnants of fabric were discovered on some of the coins, indicating the cloth pouch in which the hoard was hidden.”
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According to researcher Arleta Kowalewska, the earrings were the most unexpected aspect of the discovery.
“The exquisite craftsmanship, which combines semi-precious stones and pearls… I hope that modern jewelers will reproduce this beauty,” she stated.
Eisenberg added that the jewelry and coins were in such good condition that they appeared brand new.
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“Gold is a precious metal, and it’s an uncommon experience to find coins and jewelry that are almost 1,400 years old and still look brand new,” he stated.
The most recent discovery is not the only significant one made at Hippos in recent months.
Archaeologists announced in August that they had discovered the world’s oldest nursing home, a 1,600-year-old Christian care facility for the elderly.
The mosaic’s message, written in Koine Greek, was “Peace be with the elders.”
It was discovered inside one of the city’s residential blocks, around 320 feet from Hippos’ central plaza.
