1,850-year-old Bronze Roman Coin Discovered on Israeli Beach

A bronze Roman coin dating back 1,850 years with the symbol of the Cancer zodiac sign and a Moon goddess was just discovered at Carmel Beach in Haifa by archaeologists from the Antiquities Authority (IAA). The coin was discovered during a survey of the area designed to find antiques and save them from degradation.

This isn't the oldest Roman-era coin discovered - in fact, coins from the earlier Bar Kokhba revolt were found in Jerusalem two years ago. However, this coin was found in the water, is in remarkably good condition and its engravings shed considerable light on its origins and what it is meant to depict.

The coins used as money by the Romans were minted from gold, silver, bronze, copper, and orichalcum, although historians are unclear as to what exactly orichalcum metal is. Over time, especially in the closing days of the Roman Republic and throughout the Roman Empire, these coins also contained a number of icons and writings.

This coin, in particular, is no exception, and the writing on it tells us exactly when the coin was minted, in year eight of the reign of Antoninus Pius, and where it was minted, Alexandria in Egypt. (JPost / VFI News)