Archaeologists have discovered a rare gold coin in Jerusalem’s City of David depicting Greek Queen Berenice II of Egypt, a ruler from the Hellenistic era. The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the find on Wednesday, calling it one of extraordinary scientific importance.
The coin, minted about 2,200 years ago during the reign of Ptolemy III, was uncovered during soil sifting at the Givati Parking Lot excavation in the City of David National Park. Officials said it is the first time such a coin has been unearthed outside Egypt, the heart of Ptolemaic power.
Exceptional rarity
Only about 20 coins of this type are known worldwide. Robert Kool of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Haim Gitler of the Israel Museum said this is the first to be recovered in a controlled archaeological excavation, making it a unique addition to the archaeological record.
The coin shows a portrait of Queen Berenice II, wife and co-regent of Ptolemy III. She is depicted wearing a diadem, veil, and necklace. On the reverse is a cornucopia, symbolizing prosperity and fertility, flanked by two stars. A Greek inscription along the edge reads “of Queen Berenice,” a rare indication of female political authority in the ancient world.
Shifting the view of Jerusalem
Excavation director Yiftah Shalev said the discovery challenges the long-held belief that Jerusalem remained a poor, provincial settlement after the First Temple’s destruction in 586 BCE.
According to Shalev, evidence suggests that Jerusalem was recovering as early as the Persian period, with further growth under Ptolemaic rule. He argued that the city was not desolate or isolated but instead part of the wider economic and political networks of its time.
Historical context
Researchers believe the coin was minted in Alexandria and likely used as payment for Egyptian soldiers returning south after the Third Syrian War against the Seleucid Kingdom. Antiochus III eventually captured Jerusalem around 200 BCE, marking a regional power shift and placing the city under Seleucid control.
A moment of discovery
The coin was uncovered by Rivka Langler, a member of the excavation team, while she was sifting soil. “Suddenly I saw something shiny,” she recalled. “I picked it up and realized it was a gold coin.”
מטבע זהב נדיר של המלכה המצרית ברניקי השנייה, בן כ-2,200 שנה, התגלה בחפירות ארכיאולוגיות בעיר דוד. זהו המטבע הראשון מסוגו בעולם שנמצא עד כה בהקשר ארכיאולוגי , ואחד מ-20 הידועים בעולם.
צילום: אמיל אלג’ם רשות העתיקות, אליהו ינאי ואסף פרי עיר דוד pic.twitter.com/Kx0vLT2CZF
— רשות העתיקות – Israel Antiquities Authority (@AntiquitiesIL) August 20, 2025
She further added, “At first, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, but within seconds I was running excitedly through the excavation site.”
“I’ve been excavating in the City of David for two years, and this is the first time I’ve found gold.”
Public display planned
Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu said the small artifact carries great weight in understanding Jerusalem’s past. The Israel Antiquities Authority announced the coin will be displayed to the public in early September during the City of David Research Conference.
