The Coins Cry Out

How do we reassemble the historical story from archaeological findings?

How do we connect one piece of evidence to another? How do we connect all the pieces of the puzzle to reconstruct our historical story? We examine pottery, inscriptions, and coin by coin we can connect the dots to tell us the story.

The fact that coins are typically found in a specific strata, and that they are inscribed with an emperor’s face or that of another dignitary help us date the coin. However, that is not the case with Jewish coins, where it is not allowed to inscribe a face, so we don’t have the ‘luxury’ of a face on the coin. Instead, we will usually find a hint, as to the period, in the form of some text that reveals from what time/event this coin is. In the lack of an historian recounting (documenting) the story, the coins can take his place and tell the story.

As an example, the coins from the Bar-Kochva Revolt, 132 – 135 AD, are the ones reciting the story. Some coins bear the text: “1st year to liberty”, other coins “2nd year to liberty” and so forth. There is of course additional evidence, but the coins are the final seal.

It is important to note that Israeli coins today bear the same symbols as those of 2,000 years ago, and not by chance. There is no other nation so ancient, with history going back 4,000 years, that was exiled from his land, scattered all around the world, and returned back to the same land. That is the reason we continue to dig our roots.

Thank you “Megalim” - City of David Institute for this video.