Israel Discovers Huge Hoard of Ancient Gold Coins in Deep Sea Trove

New York Observer ^ | 02/19/15 | Brianna McGurran

[T Ruth]

A group of divers in Israel has discovered almost 2,000 ancient gold coins—the largest cache in the country’s history—off the coast of the city of Caesarea, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday.

The coins have been at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea for about 1,000 years, said Robert Cole, a numismaticist for the Israel Antiquities Authority. * * *

The majority of the coins were forged in Egypt and North Africa and have been traced to the 10th- and 11th-century Fatimid caliphs Al-Ḥākim and Al-Ẓāhir. The coins are still in near-perfect condition because gold isn’t affected by air or water like other metals, the Antiquities Authority said. In a super cool example of the fact that there were real people who lived a millennia ago, some of the coins have bite marks, probably from people examining their authenticity.

* * *

[Travis McGee]

Priceless find.

[GeronL]

cool history find ping

[rjsimmon]

The majority of the coins were forged in Egypt and North Africa

So, they are admitting that the coins are fogeries...

[grobdriver]

traced to the 10th- and 11th-century Fatimid caliphs

Jeeezzz... don't release this kind of stuff.

Now they're going to have a mile-long line of muzzies at their door claiming ownership.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

and have been traced to the 10th- and 11th-century Fatimid caliphs Al-Ḥākim and Al-Ẓāhir.

ISIS has been strangely silent regarding Israel, focusing on Europe hatred instead. Don't be surprised if ISIS demands this gelt.

[Da Coyote]

Slimy Muslim Imams claiming those coins were made by muzzies long before muzzies existed.

(After all, Mu-MAD-HAM can traverse time, and space.

H*ll, it should be the Muhammad boson.

[Zathras]

I found Caesarea to be a fascinating Roman City in Israel.

[Vendome]

Gelt!

Milk Chocolate

[Pontiac]

The coins are still in near-perfect condition because gold isn’t affected by air or water like other metals, the Antiquities Authority said.

Well gold is affected by abrasive things like SAND!

Pretty darned stupid to throw your highly valuable gold coins in the sand!

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

moslems had captured most of the Mediterranean (at least the south side), 3-400 years before these were minted. The article speaks of 2,000 coins minted 1,000 years ago, not the other way around.

[Jumper]

When you visit Herod's palace in Caesarea there is a garbage dump about 10 feet high which visitors are encouraged to take "one" and only one piece of pottery or thing imbedded and sticking out of the dirt.

Very cool place.

[T Ruth]

That sounds neat.

[Moltke]

A group of divers in Israel has discovered almost 2,000 ancient gold coins

"You didn't find that!" According to an earlier Daily Mail article:

Experts who eventually counted 2,000 pieces, dating back more than 1,000 years, described the discovery as 'priceless.' The coins are now property of the state with no finder's fee for the divers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2957563/Priceless-trove-2-000-gold-coins-used-10th-Century-Caliphate-ruled-Middle-East-coast-Israel.html

Looks like Obama and Israel finally have something in common!

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

“.....some of the coins have bite marks.....”

_______________________________________________

Damn walkers!

Where’s Daryl and his crossbow?

[VerySadAmerican]

The majority of the coins were forged in Egypt and North Africa

And the world will tell Israel they should give them to the rightful owners.

[T Ruth]

After this many years, it’s finders keepers. Even if anyone could say who minted them, and even if there were some legitimate representative of the minter, that says nothing about who owned them when they were sunk.

[chopperman]

"The coins are now property of the state with no finder's fee for the divers."

That's how you turn this guy into a jihadi.

[Moltke]

Not sure what you mean by “this guy” - you mean the Israeli divers (plural)? I’d guess they’re pissed off, but I doubt they’ll turn jihadi. That’s socialism for you.

[T Ruth]

Thanks for the link.

The coins are now property of the state with no finder's fee for the divers.

That is a stupid law. It encourages finders to keep a few and melt them down.