ASHDOD, Israel โ A rare coin minted in the ancient Cypriot city of Salamis approximately 2,500 years ago has been discovered on an Ashdod beach, becoming the first coin of its kind ever found in Israel, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The discovery was made by Avi Chaprak, Deputy Director of the Ashdod Beaches Department, while conducting a routine search for personal belongings lost by beach visitors. Instead of locating jewelry or keys, Chaprak uncovered an object that would prove to be an archaeological treasure dating to the Persian period.
After recognizing that the object might be historically significant, Chaprak turned it over to the Israel Antiquities Authority in accordance with Israel’s Antiquities Law.
Experts in the Authority’s Coin Department later confirmed that the artifact was an exceptionally rare silver-plated coin minted in Salamis, one of the principal cities of ancient Cyprus during the fifth century BCE.
Officials said it is the first known example of this specific type of coin ever discovered in Israel.
A Coin From the Persian Empire
Researchers determined that the coin was struck around the middle of the fifth century BCE, when Cyprus formed part of the Persian Empire.
Weighing approximately 11 grams, the coin belongs to a denomination known as a “Siglos,” which circulated throughout the eastern Mediterranean during the Persian period.
Although the coin initially appeared to be solid silver, detailed examination revealed that it was manufactured from base metal coated with silver.
According to experts, that technique reflected the limited availability of silver on Cyprus during that era.
“At first glance it looked to be made of silver, but a closer examination showed it to actually be of metal that was only plated with silver,” said Yanniv David Levy, researcher and curator in the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Coin Department.
“It is a known phenomenon in Cypriot silver coins from this period, given the shortage of silver on the island.”
A Rare Survival
Levy said coins of this size from the Persian period are exceptionally uncommon in the archaeological record.
“Coins of this size and value from the Persian period are rare altogether,” he explained.
“Usually, silver coins of this size were not preserved intact. Over time, they were cut into small pieces for use as local trade currency.”
According to Levy, archaeological evidence of such cut coins has generally been found at inland sites throughout Israel.
The Ashdod discovery therefore stands apart because the coin survived intact and was recovered from a coastal location.
“The discovery of a complete coin from the coastal area is unusual on all accounts, and of special historical importance,” he said.
Window Into Ancient Mediterranean Trade
One side of the coin depicts a ram lying on the ground facing left.
The reverse features a ram’s head enclosed within a sunken square, accompanied by a vertical laurel branch and three symbols believed to belong to the ancient Cypriot syllabic script.
Dr. Evangeline Markou, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation and an internationally recognized specialist in ancient Cypriot coinage, said discoveries with well-documented origins are particularly valuable to historians.
“Salamis coins from the fifth century BCE were circulating throughout the eastern Mediterranean,” Markou said.
“However, finds with an exact provenance are rarer, and therefore this coin potentially offers significant information about trade ties and movement between Cyprus and the Land of Israel during this period.”
Researchers believe the coin provides additional evidence of the extensive commercial and maritime networks that connected the eastern Mediterranean more than two millennia ago.
Ashdod, situated on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, has long been recognized as one of the region’s most significant ancient ports.
The discovery reinforces archaeological evidence that trade between Cyprus and the southern Levant flourished during Persian rule.
Importance of Responsible Reporting
Levy emphasized that the scientific value of the discovery extends beyond the coin itself.
“The circumstances of the discovery and the accurate reporting allow us researchers not only to identify the coin itself, but also to use it as a reliable source of information about economic and maritime ties that existed in this region some 2,500 years ago,” he said.
Because Chaprak immediately reported the find and documented its location, archaeologists are able to place the discovery within its proper historical and geographical context.
Such contextual information is often lost when antiquities are removed without documentation or sold through illicit markets.
Honored for Protecting Israel’s Heritage
In recognition of his actions, the Israel Antiquities Authority presented Chaprak with a certificate of appreciation for responsibly reporting and surrendering the coin.
“I am happy that I was privileged to be part of a discovery of historical value,” Chaprak said.
“For me, it was clear that the coin belonged to our collective heritage, so I immediately delivered it to the Israel Antiquities Authority.”
“If through this act I contributed another small piece towards the research and history of the Land of Israel, then that is a great honor for me.”
The discovery serves as another reminder that Israel’s beaches, cities, and archaeological landscapes continue to yield artifacts spanning thousands of years of Jewish and regional history.
For archaeologists, the rare Cypriot coin represents far more than an isolated object. It is a tangible link to the maritime commerce that connected ancient civilizations across the eastern Mediterranean and offers fresh evidence of the economic relationships that helped shape the region during the Persian period.
