Ashdod Beach Deputy Director Finds Ancient Coin – Examination Reveals Rare Discovery

Avi Cheperk, deputy director of the Ashdod beach authority, found a 2,500-year-old coin during a routine scan on the beach. Examination by the Israel Antiquities Authority revealed it originated in Cyprus, making it the first of its kind discovered in Israel. The coin was minted in Salamis, Cyprus, in the mid-5th century BCE, weighs about 11 grams, and is silver-plated. Cheperk received a certificate of appreciation for his report.

Avi Cheperk, deputy director of the Ashdod beach authority, found a 2,500-year-old ancient coin during a routine scan for lost items on Ashdod Beach. The coin was sent to the Israel Antiquities Authority, where it was determined to originate from the city of Salamis in Cyprus, making it the first of its kind discovered in Israel. The coin was minted around the mid-5th century BCE, during the Persian period, weighs about 11 grams, and is valued as a "siglos." It is made of silver-plated metal, a phenomenon known in Cypriot coins from that period due to a silver shortage on the island. One side depicts a ram lying down, and the other side shows a ram's head surrounded by a square incuse frame alongside a laurel branch and three signs in the Cypriot syllabary. According to Yaniv David Levy, a researcher at the Israel Antiquities Authority, the discovery of a complete coin in the coastal area is exceptional and of special importance, as coins of this type were usually cut into small pieces for use as "silver cuts" in local trade. Evangelina Markou, an expert on Cypriot coins, noted that finds with known discovery locations can shed light on trade relations between Cyprus and the Land of Israel during the Persian period. Cheperk received a certificate of appreciation for his report, and Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu praised his actions.