1,400-Year-Old Byzantine Gold Coin Hoard Uncovered in Israel

Aerial presumption of the past metropolis of Sussita (Hippos) overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Credit: AVRAMGR / CC BY-SA 4.0

A metallic detector beeped wildly successful Susita National Park adjacent the Sea of Galilee, Israel. The ancient Greek metropolis of Hippos (Greek: Ἵππος), was founded successful the Hellenistic play and became portion of the Greco-Roman Decapolis earlier transforming into a Byzantine Christian center.

Operator Eddie Lipsman, assisting the University of Haifa excavation, moved ungraded adjacent a ample chromatic and saw flashes of gold. “The detector went crazy; I couldn’t judge it—gold coins began to beryllium exposed 1 aft another,” Lipsman recalled. What helium uncovered turned retired to beryllium 1 of the largest Byzantine golden coin hoards ever recovered successful Israel.

Coins and jewelry revealed

Archaeologists uncovered 97 golden coins on with fragments of earrings acceptable with pearls, semi-precious stones, and glass. The coins span the reign of Justin I (518–527 CE) done the aboriginal years of Heraclius (610–613 CE). They see afloat solidi, halves (semissis), and thirds (tremissis).

This Is Our Land

Archaeologists from the University of Haifa person discovered a unsocial Byzantine-era treasure successful the Susita National Park: 97 golden coins and dozens of fragments of golden earrings inlaid with pearls, semi-precious stones, and glass. The hoard was astir apt hidden… pic.twitter.com/EvW3eiAleg

— nili lachovski (@LachovskiNili) September 25, 2025

Among them was a uncommon coin minted successful Cyprus successful 610 CE during the revolt of Heraclius the Elder and his lad against Emperor Phocas. Only 1 different of its benignant has ever been recovered successful Israel.

“This is 1 of the large Byzantine-era hoards discovered connected onshore successful Israel,” said Dr. Michael Eisenberg, co-director of the excavation and a researcher astatine Haifa University’s Zinman Institute of Archaeology. “Gold is simply a noble metal, and erstwhile you find coins and jewelry that are astir 1,400 years aged that look similar new, it’s a uncommon experience.”

A glimpse into history

Eisenberg noted that respective coins inactive bore remnants of cloth from the pouch successful which they were buried. Researchers judge the treasure was hidden during the Sasanian-Persian beforehand successful the aboriginal seventh century, erstwhile Susita was engulfed successful conflict.

Dr. Danny Shion, the team’s numismatist, stressed the worth of the Cypriot coin. “This is simply a uncommon find that adds an important furniture to the knowing of the governmental and economical past of the period,” helium said.

The jewelry besides drew attraction for its artistry. “The earrings are the large astonishment for me,” said Dr. Arleta Koblewska, co-director of the excavation. “Delicate goldsmithing combining semi-precious stones and pearls – I anticipation that modern goldsmiths volition recreate this beauty.”

Susita’s turbulent past

Perched supra the Sea of Galilee, Susita was a Christian halfway successful the Byzantine period, serving arsenic a bishopric with astatine slightest 7 churches. Excavations implicit 26 years person uncovered signs of the Sasanian conquest, including the burning of the Church of the Martyr Theodoros. Scholars suggest immoderate Jewish communities whitethorn person sided with the Sasanian service against Byzantine rule.

“Susita National Park is simply a upland of surprises with a 1000 years of history,” said Dr. Dror Ben-Yosef, practice supervisor for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. “To recognize the complexity of the country immoderate 1,400 years ago, it is capable to ascent Mount Susita and look westbound towards Tiberias – the Jewish city.”