Archaeologists working at the Givati parking lot excavation site, within the City of David National Park in Jerusalem, have uncovered a gold coin more than 2,200 years old. The piece bears the image of Egyptian Queen Berenice II and is considered an exceptional find: it is the first coin of its kind ever discovered in an official archaeological context.
Dated between 246 and 241 BCE, during the reign of Ptolemy III alongside his wife Berenice, the coin represents a quarter drachma, minted in nearly pure gold (99.3%). According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, only about 20 similar coins are known worldwide.
On the obverse, Berenice is depicted wearing a veil, necklace, and headdress. The reverse shows a cornucopia flanked by stars — symbols of fertility and prosperity — accompanied by the Greek inscription “of Queen Berenice.” The use of the term Basileisses (queen) is unusual and suggests that the sovereign may have been formally acknowledged with her own political authority.
Experts believe the coin was likely minted in Alexandria, Egypt, possibly as a special payment to soldiers who took part in the Third Syrian War (246–241 BCE), a conflict between the Ptolemaic Empire and the Seleucid Kingdom.
The discovery happened unexpectedly when Rivka Langler, a member of the excavation team, spotted something shining while sifting through soil. Upon realizing it was a gold coin, she was initially in disbelief before rushing to share her excitement with the team.
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