Israeli hiker finds rare, 2,000-year-old gold coin
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Monday, March 14, 2016 08:51 AM EDT | Updated: Monday, March 14, 2016 08:56 AM EDT
JERUSALEM -- Israel's Antiquities Authority says a hiker has found a rare, nearly 2,000-year-old gold coin.
The authority said Monday that the ancient coin appears to be only the second of its kind to have been found. It said London's British Museum possesses the other coin.
The coin, from the year A.D. 107, bears the image of Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. It was minted as part of a series of coins honouring Roman rulers.
Antiquities Authority official Donald T. Ariel said the coin may have paid part of the salary of a Roman soldier.
The hiker, Laurie Rimon, happened upon the shiny coin on a recent walk in Israel's eastern Galilee region. The authority said she will receive a certificate of appreciation for handing over the coin.
A rare, nearly 2,000-year-old gold coin, at the Antiquities Authority office inside the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Monday, March 14, 2016. Israel's Antiquities Authority says a hiker has found a rare, nearly 2,000-year-old gold coin. The authority said Monday that the ancient coin appears to be only the second of its kind to have been found. It said London's British Museum possesses the other coin. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli hiker finds rare, 2,000-year-old gold coin | World | News | Toronto Sun
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Monday, March 14, 2016 08:51 AM EDT | Updated: Monday, March 14, 2016 08:56 AM EDT
JERUSALEM -- Israel's Antiquities Authority says a hiker has found a rare, nearly 2,000-year-old gold coin.
The authority said Monday that the ancient coin appears to be only the second of its kind to have been found. It said London's British Museum possesses the other coin.
The coin, from the year A.D. 107, bears the image of Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. It was minted as part of a series of coins honouring Roman rulers.
Antiquities Authority official Donald T. Ariel said the coin may have paid part of the salary of a Roman soldier.
The hiker, Laurie Rimon, happened upon the shiny coin on a recent walk in Israel's eastern Galilee region. The authority said she will receive a certificate of appreciation for handing over the coin.
A rare, nearly 2,000-year-old gold coin, at the Antiquities Authority office inside the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Monday, March 14, 2016. Israel's Antiquities Authority says a hiker has found a rare, nearly 2,000-year-old gold coin. The authority said Monday that the ancient coin appears to be only the second of its kind to have been found. It said London's British Museum possesses the other coin. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli hiker finds rare, 2,000-year-old gold coin | World | News | Toronto Sun