150-Year-Old European Gold Coin Found in Israel

May 20, 2010

by: Joshua Spurlock

“The discovery of gold coins during archaeological excavations is a rare occurrence. This is the first time that such a coin was found in an excavation in Yafo,” said Kool. “However, we know that European gold coins were common in the Ottoman Empire [which once included the land of Israel] which suffered a severe financial crisis in the late 19th century. Documents and coins that were found in the past in Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva attest to the popularity of European gold, especially in remote provinces like Palestine, until the end of the First World War.”

The ten franc gold coin was minted in Paris in 1856, four years after a coup enabled Napoleon III, whose image is on the coin, to appoint himself the emperor of France. The excavation was directed by IAA archaeologist Eriola Jakoel and also included discoveries of other coins, pottery fragments dating from the time of the Bible and building foundations from the Late Ottoman period.

Posted on May 20, 2010

Source: BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, May 18, 2010

Photo Credit: Jacques-Jean Barre

Photo License: Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike Licence