Ancient Cypriot silver coin found on Ashdod's shore offers new insight into 2,500-year-old trade

A rare 2,500-year-old Cypriot silver Siglos coin, dating to the mid-5th century BCE, was discovered on an Ashdod beach last month by Avi Chaprak, Deputy Director of the Ashdod Beaches Department. This marks the first time such a coin has been found in Israel. The coin, weighing about 11 grams, was minted in the ancient city of Salamis during the Persian Empire's rule in Cyprus. It depicts a recumbent ram on one side and a ram's head with a laurel branch and Cypriot syllabic script on the other. Researchers noted that the coin was silver-plated, a common practice due to silver shortages in Cyprus at the time. Dr. Evangeline Markou and Yanniv David Levy highlighted the coin's significance, stating it offers "significant information about trade ties and movement between Cyprus and the Land of Israel during this period." Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu praised Chaprak's responsible actions, emphasizing that the discovery provides "tangible evidence of the maritime and commercial ties that existed between the Land of Israel and Cyprus some 2,500 years ago."