Ancient Cyprus meets Israel: Rare silver coin found on Ashdod beach

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. Although it appeared to be silver, it was found to be silver-plated metal, a common practice due to silver shortages on the island, according to Yanniv David Levy of the IAA's Coin Department. The coin features a recumbent ram on one side and a ram's head with a laurel branch and Cypriot syllabic script on the other.

“Coins of this size and value from the Persian period are rare altogether in the archaeological record,”

Levy stated, adding that its complete preservation and coastal discovery are unusual. Dr. Evangeline Markou, an expert in ancient Cypriot coinage, noted that the find offers significant insights into trade and movement between Cyprus and ancient Israel. Chaprak received a certificate of appreciation for his responsible reporting of the find, which Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu called “tangible evidence of the maritime and commercial ties that existed between the Land of Israel and Cyprus some 2,500 years ago.”