Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – An impressive hoard of silver coins dating to the Hasmonean period (126 BCE) was unearthed several years ago during archaeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority in the city of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut.
The treasure was found hidden in a rock crevice near a wall of an impressive agricultural estate.
A hoard of silver coins found in the estate. PH๏τo: ᴀssaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority
“This is a rare cache of Hasmonean silver coins is comprised of shekel and half-shekel coins (tetradrachms and didrachms) minted in the city of Tyre and depict king Antiochus VII or his brother Demetrius II, said Avraham Tendler, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The cache is compelling evidence that the owners of the estate saved income for months, eventually leaving the house for some unknown reason. He buried his money in hopes to come back and collect it but unfortunately never returned. It is exciting to think that the coin hoard was waiting here for more than 2,000 years until we exposed it”. In addition to the silver coins, during the excavation, many bronze coins minted by Hasmonean rulers were found bearing the names John, Judah, Jonathan, and Matthias and their тιтle as High Priest and head of the Jewish community. The findings indicate that the estate continued to operate throughout the Early Roman period.
A hoard of silver coins found in the estate. PH๏τo: ᴀssaf Peretz, Israel Antiquities Authority
Evidence at the site suggests that the residents of the estate participated in the first revolt against the Romans that broke out in 66 CE. Coins exposed from this period were stamped with the date “Year Two” of the revolt and the slogan “Freedom of Zion.” Apparently, the estate continued to operate after the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE.
“It seems that residents did not give up hope of gaining their independence from Rome, and they were well-prepared to fight during the Bar Kokhba revolt,” said Tendler. “During the excavation, we can see that just before the uprising, the estate inhabitants filled up rooms near the perimeter of the building with large stones to create a fortified barrier.
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In addition, we discovered hiding caves hewn into the bedrock beneath the floors. These complexes were interconnected through a series of tunnels, water cisterns, storage pits, and hidden rooms. In one of the adjacent excavation areas, an impressive miqwe was exposed – within an opening inside leading to an extensive hiding complex containing numerous artifacts dating to the Bar Kokhba Revolt”.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
