Posted on 10/23/2022 11:40:21 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Israeli archaeologists have discovered a secret stash of Byzantine-era coins inside a stone wall—where someone may have once tried to hide them.
Made of pure gold, the 44 coins are decorated with portraits of Emperors Phocas and Heraclius, who ruled in the first half of the seventh century. Experts believe the treasure, which is dated to 635 C.E., was hidden during the Muslim conquest of the area around the end of Heraclius' reign.
The artifacts were unearthed as part of a larger excavation in the ancient city of Banias, now a part of Hermon Stream Nature Reserve in the Golan Heights, an area Israel captured from Syria during the Six-Day War...
In 330 C.E. Constantine I established Constantinople, or modern-day Istanbul, as his capital. While the new resulting Byzantine Empire would continue to thrive for more than 1,000 years, it lost several of its provinces to Muslim conquests...
The researchers also note the differences between the portraits displayed on each coin... Gabriela Bijovsky, a coin expert at the IAA, says in the statement. "One can actually follow his sons growing up -- from childhood until their image appears the same size as their father, who is depicted with a long beard."...
During the excavation, researchers at the site also unearthed the remains of buildings, a pottery kiln, bronze coins and fragments of pottery and glass, among other things. The objects date from the end of the Byzantine period in the early 7th century through the 11th–13th centuries.
While the coins were among the older items discovered, they were in remarkably good condition...
Editor's Note, October 13, 2022: This story has been updated to correct the timeline of the Byzantine Empire.
(Excerpt) Read more at smithsonianmag.com ...
Since they're Byzantine sometime between 330 and 1453. I would guess toward the end of that range. You're more likely to stash your gold in a wall when times are unsettled.
“Tried to hide them”? I’d say the effort was pretty successful for 1400 years.
Probably from the tax man. Little changes over time.
Absolutely amazing!
This is before I was even born. And I’m pretty old.
Amazing find.
Buried Treasure Trove of 44 Byzantine Gold Coins Unearthed in Israel
By Louise Franco Oct 04, 2022 06:20 PM EDT
https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/53444/20221004/buried-treasure-trove-44-byzantine-gold-coins-unearthed-israel.htm
You’re lucky you have others around you to make sure you and your money are not permanently parted. 😉
Try not.
Do. Or do not.
There is no try.
Ha! Now I know where you’ve stashed all your gold.
Doubt it. They would have come back for it.
Sounds like they at least deprived the invaders of the loot.
Muslim invaders.
But your second point stands.
Not if they couldn’t return after they fled. They may have planned it that way though.
Someone “may” have hidden them? For 1400 years? Really good catch by the author.
Wow. As a coin collector, those are beautiful!!
Nearby there was a skeleton still leaning against a tree, with what used to be his eyes covered, of a guy who died while counting to a billion.
You have to wonder where all of King Solomon’s gold went.
There may be many more waiting on the abyssal plain of the Med, in clay jars aboard what’s left of ancient wrecks.
I’ve never wondered that. :^)
He had all those wives, and with all those Jewish attorneys around...
Babylon. The looting of the Temple and king treasury is well documented.
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