Second Century Coins Unearthed in Israel

By JTA June 5, 2012

Gold and silver coins and jewelry from the second century were uncovered in excavations near Kiryat Gat in southern Israel.

The 2,000-year-old hoard was likely hidden by a wealthy family during the Bar Kochba revolt, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority, which announced the find Tuesday.

The treasure was discovered during a salvage excavation near Kiryat Gat. The excavation uncovered a building dating to the Roman and Byzantine period. The coins and jewels, which were found in a hole in what was the building’s courtyard, had been wrapped in a cloth, of which trace remains were found.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO