Ancient Cypriot silver coin found on Ashdod's shore offers new insight into 2,500-year-old trade

A rare Cypriot silver Siglos coin from the mid-5th century BCE was discovered on an Ashdod beach by Avi Chaprak, deputy director of the city's Beaches Department. The coin, minted in Salamis during the Persian period, is the first of its kind found in Israel and offers new evidence of ancient trade ties between Cyprus and the Land of Israel.

A rare ancient Cypriot silver Siglos coin dating to the mid-5th century BCE was discovered on an Ashdod beach by Avi Chaprak, deputy director of the city's Beaches Department, during a search for lost items. The coin, minted in Salamis during the Persian Empire's reign, is the first of its kind ever found in Israel. Weighing about 11 grams, it features a recumbent ram on one side and a ram's head in a sunken square frame on the other, with Cypriot syllabic script. Researchers noted that such coins were often cut into pieces for trade, making this intact coastal find historically significant. The discovery provides new evidence of maritime and economic ties between Cyprus and the Land of Israel 2,500 years ago. Chaprak handed the coin to the Israel Antiquities Authority and received a certificate of appreciation. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu praised the act, emphasizing the importance of public cooperation in preserving heritage.