The British Museum owns an ancient gold coin bearing the image of Emperor Augustus, minted by Emperor Trajan, that until recently was considered the only one of its kind. The coin, from 107 CE, was part of a series of nostalgic coins that Emperor Trajan minted and dedicated to the Roman emperors that preceded him.
Now Laurie Rimon of Kibbutz Kfar Blum in the Hula Valley, Upper Galilee, who was hiking with friends in the countryside, uncovered the “identical twin brother” of this rare coin.
During a recent trip to the eastern Galilee a group of veteran hikers, including Laurie, arrived at an archaeological site, where she discerned a shiny object in the grass. When she picked it up she realized it was an ancient gold coin. The group’s guide, Irit Zuk-Kovacsi, contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority through archaeologist and veteran tour guide Dr Motti Aviam, and within two hours an IAA representative team joined the group of hikers in the field.
Israelis take their rare gold coins seriously.
Laurie turned the rare find over to the authorities, confessing that “it was not easy parting with the coin. After all, it is not every day one discovers such an amazing object, but I hope I will see it displayed in a museum in the near future.”
Nir Distelfeld, an inspector with the IAA Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery, noted, “Laurie demonstrated exemplary civic behavior by handing this important coin over to the Antiquities Authority.” He added enthusiastically, “This is an extraordinarily remarkable and surprising discovery. I believe that soon, thanks to Laurie, the public will be able to enjoy this rare find.” He then repeated the IAA mantra: “It is important to know that when you find an archaeological artifact it is advisable to call IAA representatives to the location spot on the ground. That way we can also gather the relevant archaeological and contextual information from the site.”
He didn’t attach an “or else” to his statement, but it was obvious from the context. Israel’s astonishingly vast assortment of ancient artifacts has always been an open invitation to thieves and robbers.
In the near future the IAA will award Laurie a certificate of appreciation for her good citizenship.
According to Dr. Danny Syon, a senior numismatist at the Israel Antiquities Authority, “This coin, minted in Rome in 107 CE, is rare on a global level. On the reverse side we have the symbols of the Roman legions next to the name of the ruler Trajan, and on the obverse – instead of an image of the emperor Trajan, as was usually the case, there is the portrait of the emperor ‘Augustus Deified.’ This coin is part of a series of coins minted by Trajan as a tribute to the emperors that preceded him.”
According to Dr. Donald T. Ariel, head curator of the IAA coin department, “The coin may reflect the presence of the Roman army in the region some 2,000 years ago – possibly in the context of activity against Bar Kokhva supporters in the Galilee – but it is very difficult to determine that on the basis of a single coin. Historical sources describing the period note that some Roman soldiers were paid a high salary of three gold coins, the equivalent of 75 silver coins, each payday. Because of their high monetary value, soldiers were unable to purchase goods in the market with gold coins, as the merchants could not provide change for them.”