Rare 2,200-Year-Old Gold Coin Discovered in Jerusalem’s City of David
The coin carries the image of Queen Berenice II (267–221 BC), wife of Ptolemy III Euergetes of Egypt, who lived during the intertestamental period—the so-called “silent years” between Malachi and the Gospels. What makes this discovery especially unique is that it is the first example of this coin type ever recovered in an archaeological dig. Fewer than 20 are known worldwide, most preserved in museums or private holdings. Even more striking is its inscription, written in Greek: “of Queen Berenice.” This is unusual, since coins from antiquity generally honored kings, while queens were rarely depicted or named independently. By emphasizing her identity, the coin highlights Berenice’s stature and influence as more than simply a royal spouse.
Experts believe the coin was minted in Alexandria, Egypt, likely during the Third Syrian War (246–241 BC). Such pieces may have been issued as commemoratives or as rewards for soldiers and officials. Its presence in Jerusalem underscores the city’s significance under Ptolemaic rule and its connections to the wider Mediterranean world.
This discovery also reshapes long-held assumptions that Jerusalem in the Hellenistic era was a minor, impoverished settlement following earlier destruction. Instead, this coin—alongside other finds from the mid-3rd century BC—points to a city in recovery, engaged in the political, cultural, and economic networks of its day.
From a biblical perspective, the find sheds light on the so-called “silent years” between the Old and New Testaments. While prophetic voices were absent, archaeology reveals that Jerusalem itself was far from silent. It remained a city of strategic weight, standing at the crossroads of empires, awaiting the moment when history would turn toward the New Testament era.
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