Archaeologists have uncovered a rare bronze coin minted by Jewish rebels in Jerusalem during the final year before the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday.
The coin, found during excavations in the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden near the southwest corner of the Temple Mount, bears the ancient Hebrew inscription “For the Redemption of Zion,” reflecting the desperate hopes of Jewish rebels during the fourth year of the Great Revolt against Roman rule.
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The obverse of the coin features a chalice, surrounded by an inscription in ancient Hebrew script: 'For the Redemption of Zion'
(Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
The discovery was made during the sixth season of digs led by Dr. Yuval Baruch, Dr. Filip Vukosavović and Esther Rakow-Mellet, in collaboration with the City of David and the Jewish Quarter Reconstruction and Development Company.
“This coin is a moving testimony to the Jewish spirit just months before Jerusalem’s fall,” said Rakow-Mellet, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority. “Finding it days before Tisha B’Av, the Jewish day of mourning for the Temple’s destruction, feels deeply symbolic.”
The coin, dated to 69-70 CE, features a goblet on its obverse side with the inscription “For the Redemption of Zion.” The reverse depicts a lulav (palm frond) and two etrogs (citrons), symbols of the Sukkot festival, alongside the inscription “Year Four.”
According to Yaniv David Levy, a coin researcher at the Israel Antiquities Authority, the coin’s larger size and heavier weight compared to earlier revolt coins, along with the shift from “For the Freedom of Zion” to “Redemption,” suggest a change in the rebels’ mindset as Roman forces closed in.
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Researcher Yanniv David Levy with the coin he discovered
(Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
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The archaeological excavation where the coin was discovered
(Photo: Eliyahu Yanai, City of David)
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“By Year Four, the rebels, likely led by Shimon Bar Giora, were besieged in Jerusalem,” Levy said. “The coin’s imagery and inscription reflect a shift from hope for liberation to a yearning for divine redemption.”
Dr. Baruch, a co-director of the excavation, noted that the coin’s Sukkot symbols may have been intended to evoke memories of happier times and inspire hope for a miracle. “This discovery sheds light on the rebels’ desperate situation about six months before Jerusalem’s fall on Tisha B’Av,” he said.
The excavations, funded by the Shalem Project and the City of David Foundation, have also revealed monumental remains from the Second Temple period to the Umayyad era (2nd century BCE to 7th century CE). The coin, described as well-preserved but initially covered in dirt, was identified by Levy during fieldwork.
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After cleaning, the inscription 'For the Redemption of Zion' was revealed
(Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu called the find “a powerful reminder of our deep roots in Jerusalem.” He added, “This coin, inscribed with a longing for redemption, speaks to our nation’s enduring connection to this land.”
The coin will be displayed to the public for the first time during family tours at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem this summer. On August 8, the eve of Tisha B’Av, the City of David will host its annual “How the Rocks Are Broken” event, featuring a reading of the Scroll of Lamentations amid the ancient ruins.