Ancient coin found by Israeli soldier

JERUSALEM: A rare bronze coin, dating back some 1 850 years, was discovered in northern Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority said yesterday.

The coin was found by an Israeli soldier during a training exercise in the Carmel coastal mountain range. The coin was minted in the ancient Jezreel Valley city of Geva Philippi, also known as Geva Parashim, in the Roman period, during which cities were granted the right to mint their own coins. The coin bears the head of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius, who ruled from 138 to 161 CE. The reverse side shows the moon god Men, and has the phrase “legend of the people of Geva Philippi”.