A random discovery recently made by a hiker at an archeological site in the eastern Galilee turned out to be only the second known goldcoin of its kind in the world, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Monday.

The 2,000-year-old relic, bearing the image of Emperor Augustus, was minted by Emperor Trajan as part of a series of nostalgic coins he dedicated to the Roman emperors who ruled before him.

Until the coin was found by Laurie Rimon, a member of Kibbutz Kfar Blum who was hiking with friends, the only other known version was on display at the British Museum, the IAA said.

"Laurie discerned a shiny object in the grass," the authority said in a statement.

"When she picked it up, she realized it was an ancient gold coin."

In short order, the group's guide, Irit Zuk-Kovacsi, contacted the IAA with the help of archaeologist and veteran tour guide Dr. Motti Aviam, and within two hours a representative met the group in the field to analyze the object.

"This coin, minted in Rome in 107 CE, is rare on a global level," said Dr. Danny Syon, a senior numismatist at the authority. "On the reverse, we have the symbols of the Roman legions next to the name of the ruler Trajan, and on the obverse, instead of an image of the emperor Trajan, as was usually the case, there is a portrait of the emperor Augustus Deified."

According to Dr. Donald T. Ariel, head curator of the IAA's coin department, the artifact could reflect the presence of the Roman army in the region some 2,000 years ago, possibly in the context of activity against Bar-Kochba supporters in the Galilee, although it is "very difficult to determine that on the basis of a single coin," he said.

"So far, only two other gold coins of this emperor have been registered in the State Treasures, one from Givat Shaul near Jerusalem, and the other from the Kiryat Gat region, and the details on both of them are different from those that appear on the rare coin that Laurie found," he said.

For her part, Rimon said that returning the rare find was bittersweet.

"It was not easy parting with the coin," she said.

"After all, it is not everyday one discovers such an amazing object, but I hope I will see it displayed in a museum in the near future."

Bill Rosenblum writes:

To read the complete article, see:
Hiker finds rare 2,000-year-old gold coin in northern Israel (www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Hiker-finds-rare-2000-year-old-gold-coin-in-northern-Israel-447848)