A team of archaeologists from the University of Haifa discovered a rare hoard of approximately 160 coins during an excavation in the Jordan Valley, dating back to the Hasmonean period, which they described as an archaeological Hanukkah miracle. The hoard is among the largest collections of ancient coins ever found in the Holy Land and represents value for both historians and archaeologists, according to Enikos.
The excavation was conducted by the University of Haifa's archaeological team, including Dr. Shay Bar of the university's Zinman Institute of Archaeology. The coins were found at a site located on the banks of the Tirza stream along the main road leading to the fortress of Sartaba (Alexandrion), which was built by King Alexander Jannaeus.
"It was clear from the first moment that the coins were a distinct find, and most of the coins were of a similar type," said Dr. Bar. He noted that the coins will now be cleaned, photographed, cataloged, and examined, adding, "It's clear an article will come out of this."
The hoard includes coins exclusively from King Alexander Jannaeus, who ruled from 104 to 76 BCE. According to Dr. Yoav Farhi, the coins have the same typology: on one side, an eight-pointed star and an inscription in Aramaic reading "King Alexander, Year 25"; on the other side, an anchor with a Greek inscription saying "[Coin] of King Alexander."
Such comprehensive coin collections are rare in archaeological research. The coins, minted by Alexander Jannaeus and dated to 80/79 BCE, provide an exact time capsule of that period. Dr. Bar said it is likely that the coins were hidden away in or behind a wall, wrapped in a sack of leather or other organic material that later wasted away.
"It is important because this space was active for a limited period of time," Dr. Bar stated. "From the moment we have these coins, which date from the time of Alexander Jannaeus, with all the other finds there... we are given a very precise time capsule, something that does not always happen in archaeology."
At the station site, archaeologists uncovered a ritual mikveh, a water collection pool, and other structures, including a previously unknown roadside complex originally thought to belong to the Roman period but now identified as an earlier Hasmonean site.
"The students and volunteer excavators were very excited to find such a Hasmonean hoard, especially during the Hanukkah holiday," the researchers said, according to Enikos. For them, it was a real gift, especially in difficult times. Bar emphasized that the discovery has special significance as it occurred during the days of the Hanukkah holiday.
Alexander Jannaeus, also known as Jonathan Alexander, was the grandson of Simon the Hasmonean and the great-grandson of Mattathias, who sparked the rebellion against Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Seleucid Empire. Historical records, confirmed by numismatic evidence, reveal that King Alexander Jannaeus's Hebrew name was Jonathan, and he was a ruler of the Hasmonean Kingdom who governed from 104 to 76 BCE.
The Maccabean Revolt, led by Judah Maccabee against the Seleucid Empire, broke out in 167 BCE and is celebrated during Hanukkah every year by the Jewish people, commemorating the purification of the Temple.
"It is really a rare moment to discover so many coins," Dr. Bar stated. He added that these findings indicate the important role of this place. The fortress, which overlooks the Jordan Valley, was razed at some point during the Jewish Revolt against Rome (66–74 CE).
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq