2,000-year-old Hasmonean coin discovered by child evacuated on Oct.7

While exploring the area around the hotel that he had been evacuated to along the Dead Sea, Nati Toyikar came across an ancient coin dating back to the Hasmonean period..

An 11-year-old boy found a 2,000-year-old coin belonging to the Hasmonean king and high priest Alexander Yanai, Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Tuesday.

Nati Toyikar was evacuated from his home, Kibbutz Magen, following Hamas's October 7 attacks. He is currently living in one of the hotels for evacuated residents along the Dead Sea, where, on one of his explorations, he unexpectedly found an ancient coin from the time of Hasmonean King Alexander Yanai. Nati proved great responsibility and citizenship by returning the coin to the Antiquities Authority.

Nati's father, Ronen, shared "Sometimes when school is over, the kids go walking and exploring in the area of the hotel.

"Nati is a curious boy who likes to look at the ground and look for interesting things. After the trip, he came back to me excited and told me that he found a small coin. We researched the coin a bit on the Internet, and on Nati's own initiative, he suggested calling and reporting the finding to the Antiquities Authority. The great care we received and the fact that archaeologist Alex Freiberg came all the way to meet Nati and give him a certificate made him very happy. It motivates me to show good citizenship next time as well."

"Since October 7, we have guides from the educational centers of the Antiquities Authority organizing and conducting activities in hundreds of hotels where evacuees are staying. The participants get a few moments of distraction from the difficult reality and are exposed to the world of antiquities," says Orit Apalo and Einat Kashi from the Antiquities Authority.

"We meet the residents of Kibbutz Magen as part of a wide range of activities carried out among evacuees in the Dead Sea region, and we are happy that the younger generation already knows about the importance of antiquities."

According to Dr. Robert Cole, Head of the Coins Branch at the Antiquities Authority, "the coin that Nati found is a well-known coin of the Hasmonean king and high priest Alexander Janai (104-76 BCE). On the face of the coin appears an anchor, and around it appears an inscription in Greek - "Alexander Basileus," which translates to "(of) Alexander the King." On the back of the coin appears a star with eight rays, surrounded by a crown of kings. Between the rays, you can see an inscription, which appears in small letters. Only a part of it can be deciphered here. It recalls the name and title of the king in ancient Hebrew: [Yohan]n/he/mel/[cha]/."

Hasmonean rule reached the peak of its power and territorial expansion under Alexander Yanai. As a Jew and an important Hellenistic ruler, he held the dual title of high priest and king - which is a noticeable feature in the inscription on a coin.

The coin was minted in the 80s BCE in very large quantities, and its wide distribution in Israel and neighboring regions indicates the expansion of the kingdom under Yanai's rule. Dr. Cole expands on this archaeological find, stating that "The coins of this type found along the coast of the Dead Sea are evidence of military and the king's conquests against the Kingdom of the Nabatim in Jordan. These coins were used to pay the king's soldiers and to build and strengthen fortresses in the area (such as Masada, Makhvar, Qumran) - and also - to build a fleet of vessels that operated in the Dead Sea. Hence, perhaps, the anchor symbol that appears on the currency."

I didn’t see where it said if he was able to keep it or not? I did see they said he got a certificate for it though. I assume they co fiscsted it and gave him an “attaboy” award?

Thanks SteveH.

Thanks to the FRchives, selections from the epigraphy and language keyword, sorted:

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2,800-year-old Scarab Discovered by Hiker in Lower Galilee [02/12/2024]
Rare 2,550-year-old silver coin from Persian era uncovered in Jerusalem area [01/29/2024]
Has the Yom Kippur Mystery of Azazel Finally Been Solved? [09/25/2023]
Rare Half-Shekel Coin from the Great Revolt Found in Jerusalem's Ophel Excavations [12/15/2022]
3,000-year-old Egyptian amulet discovered in Israel on a school trip [12/02/2022]
Rare Half-Shekel Coin from the Great Revolt Found in Jerusalem's Ophel Excavations [12/15/2022]
Looted coin worth $1m returned to Israel after years-long hunt [09/13/2022]
Israeli youths unearth 1,100-year-old gold coins from Abbasid era [08/25/2020]
When the Romans turned Jerusalem into a pagan city, Jews revolted and minted this coin [05/24/2020]
Secret 'piggy bank' of 1,200-year-old gold coins discovered in Israel [01/05/2020]
Bronze Coin Dating Back to Maccabean Revolt Discovered in Jerusalem [12/21/2016]
Ancient Inscription Identifies Gargilius Antiques as Roman Ruler on Eve of Bar Kochva Revolt [12/02/2016]
That's No Bottlecap! Hiker In Israel Finds Rare Gold Coin [03/15/2016]
Israeli hiker finds rare, 2,000-year-old gold coin [03/15/2016]
Israel unveils its largest find of medieval gold coins [02/22/2015]
Found! Largest Ever Cache of Gold Coins Discovered in Israel [02/21/2015]
Israel Discovers Huge Hoard of Ancient Gold Coins in Deep Sea Trove [02/20/2015]
Largest trove of gold coins in Israel unearthed from ancient harbor [02/17/2015]
Jerusalem stone may answer Jewish revolt questions [10/22/2014]
Rare clay sarcophagus found in Israel alongside Seti I scarab seal ring [04/09/2014]
Missing keys hunt unearths treasure trove find [07/31/2013]
Hoard of Gold Coins Found at Israel Crusades Site [07/12/2012]
Amazing Find Near the Dead Sea [ Petra Drachma coins, Bar Kochba revolt ] [08/15/2010]
Israel Finds Rare 2,200-Year-Old Gold Coin [08/11/2010]
Rare coin bears good tidings for UNOs Israeli excavations [07/05/2010]
Israel displays coins from ancient Jewish revolt [11/11/2009]
Israeli Diver Discovers Ancient Amulet at Yavne [07/14/2008]

Well now, today is certainly filled with excitement.

Nati Toyikar came across an ancient coin...
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Nati's father, Ronen, shared "Sometimes when school is over (sic), the kids go walking and exploring in the area of the hotel.
"Nati is a curious boy who likes to look at the ground and look for interesting things.

Talk about an auspicious lineage. That's the way to go!

"Audaces Fortuna Juvat"

Rome invaded and subjugated Judea in 63 B.C....so Alexander’s legacy didn’t last too long. How did he swing being the high priest and King During his rule? Once a year he is supposed to risk his life going into the Holy of Holies, no?

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