A rare and ancient silver coin was uncovered in the main drainage channel of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Period. The Israel Antiquities Authority reported the find while carrying out an archaeological excavation in the Walls around Jerusalem National Park.

The silver shekel-denominated coin was said to be of the type used to pay the half shekel head-tax in the Second Temple period.

The excavations, directed by Eli Shukron of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Professor Ronny Reich of the University of Haifa, are being conducted on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Nature and Parks Authority and the ‘Ir David Foundation.

In a statement regarding the shekel coin find, Eli Shukron was quoted as saying:

"Just like today when coins sometimes fall from our pockets and roll into drainage openings at the side of the street, that’s how it was some two thousand years ago – a man was on his way to the Temple and the shekel which he intended to use for paying the half shekel head-tax found its way into the drainage channel."

According to the same statement, the discovered shekel weighs 13 grams, bears the head of Melqart, the chief deity of the city of Tyre on the obverse (equivalent to the Semitic god Baal) and an eagle upon a ship’s prow on the reverse. The coin was struck in the year 22 CE.

Only seven other Tyrian shekels and half shekels were said to be ever found in Jerusalem excavations.

Photographic credit: Clara Amit, Israel Antiquities Authority.