A shekel made of pure silver that was used for trade in Jerusalem about 2,000 years ago, during the Second Temple period, was discovered in Jerusalem by an 11-year-old girl.
The coin weighs about 14 grams. On one side is an inscription of a cup with the caption: "Israeli shekel" and next to the cup are the letters: ש"ב – shorthand for “second year" - the second year of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans (67-68 CE). On the other side of the coin is an inscription identified by scholars as the headquarters of the High Priest, and next to it appears in ancient Hebrew script the words: "Holy Jerusalem."
According to Dr. Robert Kool, Head of the Coin Department of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This is a rare find, since out of many thousands of coins discovered to date in archeological excavations, only about 30 coins are coins made of silver, from the period of the Great Revolt."
The coin was discovered in dirt that came from archeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority on the "Pilgrimage Road," in the City of David National Park.
According to archaeologist Ari Levy, Director of the Excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, "This street, which connected the Siloam Pool in the south of the City of David to the Temple Mount in the north, was Jerusalem's main street during the Second Temple period, where thousands of pilgrims marched on their way to the Temple."
"There is no doubt that there would have been extensive trading here. This is evidenced by the many weights and bronze coins we have found here. But to find a rebel coin made of pure silver is definitely very special and exciting."
Dr. Kool theorizes that the silver from which the coin was made came from the plentiful silver reserves in the Temple, and that it was minted on the Temple Mount plaza - possibly by one of the priests, who worked in coordination with the rebel leaders and assisted them. Where else could you find silver in such quantity and such high quality in those days? Only in the Temple.
"If so, we can say with caution that this coin is, apparently, one of the only items we can hold today that originated on the Temple itself," he said.
"Everyone knows the Arch of Titus in Rome and the descriptions of loot taken from the Temple that appear on it, but not many are familiar with the huge silver reserves that were in the Temple. You can learn from the ancient inscription uncovered by the researcher Géza Alföldy about the huge silver reserves that were in the Temple."
Dr. Amit Reem, Jerusalem District Archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority added: "This inscription revealed that the famous Colosseum we all know in Rome was built by the Romans from the spoils of the Temple looted from Jerusalem. It reads: 'Emperor Vespasian (who, along with his son Titus, suppressed the Jewish Revolt and destroyed the Temple) ordered the construction of this new theater amphitheater (the Colosseum) from his share of the spoils.'"
"One can only imagine the extent of the loot and the amount of money the Romans found in the Temple storehouses," commented Dr. Amit Reem.
As part of the excavation, the archaeological earth was sent for wet sifting in the Emek Tzurim Sifting Project, and the person who was privileged to discover the find was 11-year-old girl Liel Krutokop from Petah Tikva, who came with her parents and sister to do archeological sifting at the City of David.
"We poured the bucket with the dirt on the strainer, and as we filtered the stones that were inside, I saw something round," she said, describing the exciting moments of exposing the rare find. "At first, I did not know what it was, but it looked different from all the other stones. My father brought it to one of the assistants, and she showed it to an archaeologist. He looked at it and said it was a silver coin that needed to be cleaned. I was very excited."
According to the girl, "When I got to Emek Tzurim I thought there must be simple coins in the buckets, but I did not think I would find a coin myself, and certainly not such a rare coin from pure silver. I was lucky to find it, but I also want to say thank you to my sister for choosing the bucket we sifted. If she had not chosen this particular bucket, I probably would not have found the coin."
The coin, which was sent to the laboratories of the Israel Antiquities Authority, underwent a chemical process for cleaning, and recently, upon completion of the process, the significance of the find became clear.
According to Dr. Kool, "A currency is a sign of sovereignty. If you go into rebellion, you use one of the most obvious symbols of independence, and you mint coins. The inscription on the coin clearly expresses the rebels' aspirations."
"The choice to use ancient Hebrew script, which was no longer in use at the time, is not accidental. The use of this script came to express the longing of the people of the period for the days of David and Solomon and the days of a united Jewish kingdom - days when the people of Israel had full independence in the land."
According to Eli Escosido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "I was happy to see the excitement and curiosity that gripped Liel when finding the rare coin. It has importance for understanding the minting of coins, which I am certain she will share with her friends and family. The Israel Antiquities Authority considers the connection of the younger generation to our heritage, in an experiential and unmediated way, a top priority. Our educational center will come to Liel's class, mint coins, and share the importance of the find with her friends."
The rare coin will be presented to the public during Hanukkah at Emek Tzurim National Park in Jerusalem at the City of David and the National Parks Authority. The public is invited to come and participate in the "archeological sifting experience" that takes place there.
Shekeli ya fedha safi iliyotumiwa katika biashara huko Yerusalemu miaka 2,000 hivi iliyopita, wakati wa kipindi cha Hekalu la Pili, iligunduliwa huko Yerusalemu na msichana mwenye umri wa miaka 11. Sarafu hiyo ina uzito wa gramu 14. "Kulingana na maandishi ya Biblia, kikombe cha dhahabu kilichoandikwa ""Shekeli ya Israeli"" kilikuwa na herufi ""Shekeli ya Israeli"" (shekeli ya Israeli) na ""Shekeli ya Israeli"" (shekeli ya Israeli) kwenye sehemu ya pili ya kifuniko cha kikombe hicho." "Kulingana na maelezo ya wataalamu, sehemu ya pili ya sarafu hiyo ina maandishi yaliyoandikwa ""Jiji Takatifu la Yerusalemu"" na ""Jiji Takatifu la Yerusalemu.""" "Kulingana na Daktari Robert Kool, Mkuu wa Idara ya Sarafu ya Mamlaka ya Utafiti wa Vitu vya Kale ya Israeli, ""Hii ni ugunduzi wa nadra, kwa kuwa kati ya maelfu ya sarafu zilizogunduliwa hadi sasa katika uchimbuaji wa kiakiolojia, ni sarafu 30 tu zilizotengenezwa kwa fedha, kutoka kipindi cha Mapinduzi Makubwa.""" Sarafu hiyo iligunduliwa katika udongo uliotokana na uchimbuaji wa kiakiolojia uliofanywa na Shirika la Utafiti wa Vitu vya Kale la Israeli kwenye "Barabara ya Pilgrimu", katika Mbuga ya Kitaifa ya Jiji la Daudi. "Ari Levy, mkurugenzi wa uchunguzi wa vitu vya kale katika Israel, alisema: ""Mtaa huu, uliokuwa ukishikamana na Bwawa la Siloamu kusini mwa Jiji la Daudi na Mlima wa Hekalu kaskazini, ulikuwa barabara kuu ya Yerusalemu wakati wa kipindi cha Hekalu la Pili, ambapo maelfu ya waabudu walisafiri kuelekea Hekalu." "Hakuna shaka kwamba kulikuwa na biashara kubwa hapa. Jambo hilo linaonyeshwa na mizani na sarafu nyingi za shaba ambazo tumepata hapa. Lakini kupata sarafu ya waasi iliyotengenezwa kwa fedha safi ni jambo la pekee sana na lenye kusisimua sana". "Kul anasema kwamba fedha iliyotumiwa kutengeneza sarafu hiyo ilitoka kwenye hifadhi nyingi za fedha zilizokuwa Hekaluni, na kwamba ilitengenezwa katika uwanja wa Temple Mount, labda na mmoja wa makuhani, ambaye alifanya kazi kwa ushirikiano na viongozi wa waasi na kuwasaidia.""" Ni wapi pengine ambapo ungeweza kupata fedha kwa wingi na ubora kama huo katika siku hizo? Ni katika Hekalu tu. "Ikiwa ndivyo, tunaweza kusema kwa tahadhari kwamba sarafu hii ni, inaonekana, moja ya vitu tu tunaweza kushikilia leo ambayo yalitokana na Hekalu lenyewe, "alisema. "Kila mtu anajua Arch ya Titus huko Roma na maelezo ya nyara zilizochukuliwa kutoka Hekaluni ambazo zinaonekana juu yake, lakini si wengi wanajua akiba kubwa ya fedha iliyokuwa katika Hekalu. """ "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika maandishi ya kale yaliyochimbuliwa na mtafiti Geza Alfoldy, ""mashamba ya fedha"" ya hekalu la Yerusalemu yalikuwa mengi sana." "Amit Reem, mtaalamu wa vitu vya kale wa Israel Antiquities Authority, alisema: ""Kuna maandishi ya kale ambayo yanaonyesha kwamba Jumba la kale la kale la Roma lilijengwa na Waroma kutokana na nyara za hekalu zilizotwaliwa kutoka Yerusalemu." "Mfalme Vespasian, ambaye pamoja na mwanawe Tito, alishinda uasi wa Wayahudi na kuharibu Hekalu, aliamuru ujenzi wa ukumbi huu mpya wa michezo (Colosseum) kwa sehemu yake ya nyara.""" "Mtu anaweza tu kuwazia ukubwa wa nyara na kiasi cha pesa ambacho Waroma walipata katika maghala ya Hekalu", akasema Dakt. Amit Reem. "Kama sehemu ya uchimbaji, udongo wa akiolojia ulipelekwa kwa ""kuchimba mvua"" katika Mradi wa Emek Tzurim, na mtu ambaye alikuwa na upendeleo wa kugundua ugunduzi huo alikuwa msichana wa miaka 11 kutoka Petah Tikva, ambaye alikuja na wazazi wake na dada yake kufanya uchimbaji wa akiolojia katika Jiji la Daudi." """Tuliinyunyiza ndoo hiyo kwa udongo kwenye kisu, na tulipokuwa tukichuja mawe yaliyokuwa ndani, niliona kitu cha mviringo,"" alisema, akielezea wakati wa kusisimua wa kufunua kitu hicho cha ajabu." "Mwanzoni, sikujua kilikuwa nini, lakini kilionekana tofauti na mawe mengine yote. Baba yangu alileta kwa mmoja wa wasaidizi, naye akamwonyesha mtaalamu wa vitu vya kale. Alitazama na kusema kwamba ilikuwa sarafu ya fedha iliyohitaji kusafishwa. Nilikuwa na msisimko sana". "Mwanamke huyo alisema hivi: ""Nilipofika Emek Tzurim, nilidhani kwamba lazima kuwe na sarafu za kawaida katika ndoo hizo, lakini sikufikiri kwamba ningepata sarafu yoyote, na hakika si sarafu ya fedha safi." Nilikuwa na bahati ya kuipata, lakini pia ningependa kumshukuru dada yangu kwa kuchagua ndoo tuliyoichuja. Kama hangechagua ndoo hii hususa, labda singepata sarafu hiyo". Sarafu hiyo ilitumwa kwa maabara ya Israel Antiquities Authority, na baada ya kufanyiwa uchunguzi wa kemikali, umuhimu wa kipande hicho ulionekana wazi. "Kulingana na Dr. Kool, ""Njia ni ishara ya uhuru.""" "Kama wewe ni katika uasi, wewe kutumia moja ya ishara dhahiri zaidi ya uhuru, na wewe mint sarafu. """ Maandishi yaliyo kwenye sarafu hiyo yanaonyesha waziwazi tamaa za waasi hao". "Uchaguzi wa kutumia maandishi ya kale ya Kiebrania, ambayo hayakuwa yakitumiwa tena wakati huo, si wa bahati mbaya. "Utumizi wa maandishi hayo ulionyesha jinsi watu wa wakati huo walivyotamani sana siku za Daudi na Sulemani na siku za ufalme wa Wayahudi uliounganishwa - siku ambazo watu wa Israeli walikuwa na uhuru kamili katika nchi yao.""" "Eli Esposito, Mkurugenzi wa Israel Antiquities Authority, alisema: ""Nilikuwa na furaha kuona msisimko na udadisi ambao ulimshika Liel alipopata sarafu hiyo isiyo ya kawaida." Ni muhimu kwa kuelewa minting ya sarafu, ambayo nina uhakika yeye kushiriki na marafiki zake na familia. Mamlaka ya Urithi wa Israeli inachukulia uhusiano wa kizazi cha vijana na urithi wetu, kwa njia ya uzoefu na isiyo ya kati, kipaumbele cha juu. Kituo chetu cha elimu kitakuja kwenye darasa la Liel, kutengeneza sarafu, na kushiriki umuhimu wa ugunduzi huo na marafiki zake". Sarafu hiyo ya ajabu itatolewa kwa umma wakati wa Hanukkah katika Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Emek Tzurim huko Jerusalem katika Jiji la Daudi na Mamlaka ya Hifadhi za Taifa. Watu wote wanaalikwa kuja na kushiriki katika "maono ya kuchimba vitu vya kale" yanayofanywa huko.