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A Small Gold Coin Hidden in the Soil of Jerusalem Brought to Light the Image of an Egyptian Queen Forgotten by Time. The Object, With More Than Two Millennia of History, Challenges Beliefs About the Political Role of Women in Ancient Egypt and Reveals Unexpected Connections of the City With Powerful Kingdoms.
Archaeologists in Jerusalem uncovered a miniature gold coin depicting the Egyptian Queen Berenice II. The piece is 2,200 years old and was dated to the reign of Ptolemy III, the queen’s husband. The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) confirmed that the object was likely minted in Alexandria 2,270 years ago.
The rarity is impressive because only 17 similar coins have been recorded in the past century. This is the first found outside Egypt and during an organized excavation.
Location of the Discovery
The coin was unearthed in the City of David, in East Jerusalem, the historical core of ancient settlements. The discovery occurred in an area known as Givati Parking, where Rivka Langler has been working for two years.
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“I was sifting through the soil when I saw something shiny,” Langler recalled. “At first, I couldn’t believe it, but within seconds I was running excitedly around the site.”
Coin Details
One side displays the portrait of Queen Berenice II wearing a tiara, veil, and necklace. The other shows a cornucopia flanked by two stars. The Greek inscription “Basileisses” means “of the Queen.”
These details reinforce the political importance of the figure. The presence of the title suggests that Berenice was not just a consort but also a legitimate ruler.
Who Was Berenice II
Berenice II was the wife of Ptolemy III, who ruled from 246 to 221 BC. Before her marriage, she ruled over the region of Kirinyaka, in present-day eastern Libya.
When she united with her cousin, her land was incorporated into the vast and wealthy Ptolemaic kingdom. During her husband’s military campaigns in Syria, Berenice acted as regent of the Egypt, reinforcing her role of leadership.
Coins and Power
Queens of the Ptolemaic dynasty were sometimes depicted on coins, but not always. The most famous case is that of Cleopatra VII, daughter of Ptolemy XII.
The new discovery, however, indicates that Berenice was already exercising significant power or political influence in the 3rd century BC. Therefore, the coin helps to understand how women of the dynasty could also play central roles.
Significance for Jerusalem
It is unknown how the piece arrived in the city. Nonetheless, archaeologists emphasize the historical value of the find.
According to Yiftah Shalev, Jerusalem was recovering after the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC. “The prevailing view was that Jerusalem was marginal and resource-poor,” he stated.
However, the coin suggests otherwise. “The city appears to have become stronger during the Persian period and under Ptolemaic rule,” Shalev added.
Reinforcement of Prestige
For Yuval Gadot, from Tel Aviv University, the discovery shows that the elite of Jerusalem maintained ties with Egyptian rulers. “The coin tells us that Jerusalem was an important city,” he highlighted.
This relationship indicates broader political, cultural, and economic connections than previously thought. Furthermore, it reinforces the idea that the city was not isolated after wars and destructions.
A Rare Treasure
“It’s a stunning coin,” declared Robert Kool, head of numismatics at the IAA. He noted that only 17 coins of this type have been recorded in a hundred years.
The fact that it was found in official excavations makes the discovery even more valuable for historical research.
The gold coin featuring the face of Berenice II unites different narratives. On one side, it showcases female power in Hellenistic Egypt. On the other, it reveals the significance of Jerusalem during a time of reconstruction.
Small in size, but immense in meaning, the piece connects two stories: that of a queen who ruled with strength and that of a city that was rising as a strategic center of the ancient world.
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