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Photo: Ptolemaic Gold Coin
Credit: Photo Courtesy Israel Antiquities Association

According to a report published by Arutz Sheva, archaeologists have found an ancient gold coin dated to the reign of King Ptolemy V, 200 BCE. The following is an excerpt from the article:

Archaeologists working in Tel Kedesh in northern Israel have uncovered an extremely rare 2,200-year-old gold coin, minted in Alexandria by King Ptolemy V.

The head of the Coin Department of the Israel Antiquities Association, long-time American immigrant Dr. Donald T. Ariel, said, “This is the heaviest and most valuable ancient gold coin ever found in an excavation in Israel.” The coin depicts a queen, believed to be Arsinoe II Philadelphus, who was married to her half-brother Ptolemy II. It is possible, however, that it may actually be Ptolemy V’s wife Cleopatra I, daughter of Antiochus III.”

According to Ariel, the discovery of the coin is very significant. He said:

“It is rare to find Ptolemaic coins in Israel dating after the country came under Seleucid rule in 200 BCE.” “The only other gold Ptolemaic coin from an excavation in Israel (from Akko) dates from the period of Ptolemaic hegemony, in the third century BCE, and weighs less than two grams.”

Read the article in its entirety by clicking here.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

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Tags: Archaeology, Gold Coin, Numismatic, Donald Ariel, Ptolemy V, Arsinoe II