Rare 2,500-Year-Old Cypriot Coin Discovered on Ashdod Beach in Israel

A rare ancient coin dating back approximately 2,500 years was recently discovered on a beach in Ashdod, Israel. The coin originated from Salamis, a city in Cyprus, and dates to the mid-5th century BCE during the Persian period. It is a silver coin weighing about 11 grams, known as a Siglos, though analysis revealed it is made of a metal coated with silver, a common practice in Cypriot coins of that era due to silver shortages on the island.

The coin features an image of a running ram on one side and the ram's head surrounded by a recessed square frame on the other, accompanied by a vertical laurel branch and three signs likely in Cypriot syllabic script. Such coins of this size and value from the Persian period are very rare in archaeological finds, as they were often cut into smaller pieces for local trade. The discovery of a complete coin on the coast is exceptional and provides valuable insight into ancient economic and maritime connections between Cyprus and the region of Israel.

The coin was found by Avi Cheferak, deputy director of the Ashdod beaches department, who regularly assists visitors in locating lost items. During a routine search about a month ago, he noticed the unusual coin and promptly handed it over to the Israel Antiquities Authority for examination. Yaniv David Levy, a coin expert at the Authority, confirmed the coin's significance and rarity.

Cheferak received a certificate of appreciation for reporting and transferring the coin to the state’s treasures. He expressed pride in contributing to the historical research of Israel, emphasizing the coin's importance as part of the shared heritage. The find offers researchers a rare opportunity to study trade and cultural links in the eastern Mediterranean during the Persian period.