“The discovery of the coin hoard may also shed light on the economy of the city of Banias during the last 40 years of Byzantine rule,” noted Dr. Yoav Lerer of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
A treasure of 44 ancient gold coins was recently discovered in archaeological excavations carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) at the site of Paneas (later known as Banias), within the Hermon River Nature Reserve in the northern tip of the country.
Dr. Gabriela Bijovsky, an IAA numismatic expert, examined the coin hoard, composed entirely of gold solidus coins, and identified some coins of Emperor Phocas (602–610 CE), and many coins minted by Emperor Heraclius (610–641 CE). The latest coins of Heraclius date the coin hoard to the time of the Muslim Conquest in 635 CE.
Image - IAA