Extremely rare gold ancient bearing the image of Augustus discovered by a hiker

An Israeli woman hiking in the Galilee discovered an extremely rare, nearly 2,000-year-old gold coin - only the second such coin ever to be discovered.

The coin, dating back to the year 107 CE, bears the image of the Roman Emperor Augustus, and was unearthed by Laurie Rimon, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Blum in northern Israel.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/209361

 

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I was hiking yesterday and I did not find any coins, gold or otherwise.

 

I take my dog for a 10km. walk, every day....best I ever found was a Loonie!
Maybe, one day!
John

 

Wonderful coin and cool article....but a 'Certificate of Good Citizenship' ?

Jeez, You'd hope for a little more.

Hmmm, no wonder I never bother picking up those 'pennies' I find while hiking....

 

The coin may date back to the famous Bar Kochba rebellion, according to Dr. Donald T. Ariel, head curator of the coin department at the Israel Antiquities Authority.

"Historical sources describing the period note that some Roman soldiers were paid a high salary of three gold coins, the equivalent of 75 silver coins, each payday. Because of their high monetary value soldiers were unable to purchase goods in the market with gold coins, as the merchants could not provide change for them."

Interesting fact, if accurate.

 

I remember that couple walking their dog in California, and the dog started sniffing at something gleaming....which turned out to be a hoard of perfect MS US Double Eagles. Dog gets filet mignon for life!

John

 

Not merely an Augustus aureus, but a restoration of an Augustan type struck under Trajan!

 

Magnificent coin.

 

It couldn't be from the Bar Kochba rebellion could it? This is a restoration issue from Trajan who died AD 117. Bar Kochba was after Trajan's death if I remember correctly.

Edit: Nevermind, I read more in depth into the article and it makes more sense what he is trying to say now.

 

All I know is, I don't have this in my collection and that's all that counts.

 

Wow, a spectacular find.

 

Lucky lady!
Although I can't imagine how frustrating must have been for the person that lost it!

 

LOL That was my first thought.

 

No incentive to turn in. Rather just quietly "own" it, and become its steward...

 

I think there was a case where some divers found a hoard of Islamic Fatimid Dynasty gold dinars. They turned them in to the Israeli govt., reason one can spend time in prison for not turning in archeological finds. Poor snooks did not even get a finders reward. I would probably keep it secret and make it part of my collection! Recently, I won a FDC Fatimid AV Dinar from Caliph Al Amir circa 1040AD. There were five diff. dates AH for auction, all FDC. Wonder if they were found recently?
John

 

If that coin had been found in England, the reward would have been substantial. The Israeli "reward" is not likely to encourage finders to report finds. I participate in quantitative analyses of coin hoards and England has far and away more well-recorded hoards useful for scholarship than any other country (including Italy). There is a reason for that.

 

Agreed. The laws here seem very fair.

 

isn't a Kibbutz the equivalent of a hippie farm?

 

Agreed to all. Rather than punish a finder, reward like the UK. Everyone wins. Else, I would consider quietly put into my collection for my Grandkids legacy... And, MOLON LABE!

 

a crazy cool story. what an amazing find. what is it's value ?