Summary: Archaeologists discover a rare hoard of Hasmonean coins in the Jordan Valley, dating back over 2,000 years ago to King Alexander Jannaeus.
At that time the Feast of Dedication [Hanukkah] took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. – John 10:22-23 (ESV)
Hasmonean Coins from Israel
A rare hoard of Hasmonean coins was discovered last month during the holiday of Hanukkah. Israeli researchers called the collection of about 160 ancient coins an “archaeological Hanukkah miracle.”
Dating back over 2,000 years, the coins are believed to have been minted by King Alexander Jannaeus, the second ruler of the Hasmonean dynasty who reigned over Judea from 104 to 76 BC, according to the University of Haifa in Israel.
The coin hoard was uncovered during ongoing excavations in the Jordan Valley, located between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the eastern border of Jordan, led by researchers from the University of Haifa and the Zinman Institute of Archaeology, Dr. Shai Bar, Dr. Yoav Farhi and Dr. Michael Ezband.
The History of Hanukkah
The timing of the discovery, on the third day of Hanukkah, is significant since King Alexander Jannaeus, also known by his Hebrew name Jonathan Alexander, was a descendent of the leaders of the Maccabean Revolt. This rebellion led to the restoration of the temple in Jerusalem and the first celebration of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
Judah Maccabee (also known as Judas Maccabeus) led the Maccabean Revolt which broke out in 167 BC against Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Seleucid Empire. King Jannaeus, the owner of the coin collection, was the great-nephew of Judah Maccabee and the great-grandson of Mattathias, who first sparked the revolt.
The treasure was unearthed at a previously undiscovered way station on the main road leading up to the Alexandrion/Sartaba fortress built by King Jannaeus, according to Dr. Bar. The fortress, which overlooks the Jordan Valley, was destroyed at some point during the Jewish Revolt against Rome in 66-74 AD.
A purification bath or mikveh was also found during excavations, along with a storage pool and other buildings. Located north of Jericho along the Tirza River Valley, the site had not been recognized in research until now.
Largest Coin Collection of its Kind
Each coin bears inscriptions that include an eight-pointed star and the phrase “King Alexander Year 25” written in Aramaic, one of the world’s oldest known languages that originated in the region around what is now Syria. On the reverse of the coin appears an anchor surrounded by the Greek words “[Coin] of King Alexander.” This type of coin dates to 80/79 BC.
“At first glance and before cleaning, it appears that all the coins in the hoard are of one type,” said Dr. Yoav Farhi, curator of the Early Coins Pavilion at the Eretz Israel Museum. “Only a few hoards of Alexander the Great are known to research, and those discovered in organized archaeological excavations are particularly rare. This hoard is also one of the largest of its kind discovered in the Land of Israel.”
Such comprehensive coin collections are unique, as they provide an exact time capsule of the period when they were minted. According to Dr. Bar, the coins were most likely hidden away in or behind a wall, wrapped in a sack of leather or other material that has since wasted away.
“It is important because this space was active for a limited period of time,” Dr. Bar stated. “From the moment we have these coins, which date from the time of Alexander Jannaeus, with all the other finds there… we are given a very precise time capsule, something that does not always happen in archaeology.”
History of the Maccabean Revolt
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days and nights, starting on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which may fall anywhere between late November and late December. This year the holiday began on December 25 and ended on January 2 with the cache of ancient coins found on Friday, December 27th.
The beginning of Hanukkah is related by the historian Josephus and 1 Maccabees 2:15-32 (a historical book that is not part of the canonized Hebrew Bible). After the Second Temple in Jerusalem was desecrated by the Seleucid Emperor Antiochus IV and his Greco-Syrian troops, the Jewish priest Mattathias and his five sons rebelled. They rallied the Jewish people and began a guerrilla war taking over the northern villages of Judea, tearing down altars to idols along the way. Judah Maccabee took charge of the revolt after his father Mattathias died.
Against all odds, Judah was successful in taking back Jerusalem and the Temple from the Seleucids. On December 25, 165 BC, the Temple was rededicated to God after months of cleansing. The temple’s holy lamp (menorah) was lit but had only enough oil for one night. Miraculously, the lamp remained lit for eight days until more holy oil could be procured. Hanukkah celebrates this miracle.
The Maccabean Revolt lasted until 160 BC when Judah was killed at the Battle of Elasa. The war itself continued, until ultimately ending in 134 BC when the Maccabees gained independence and formed the Hasmonean Kingdom. This was the first time that the Jews had established their own self-ruled sovereignty in the Land of Israel since the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonian Empire centuries earlier. Independence lasted for about 80 years, until the conquest by the Romans.
Conclusion
Students and volunteers involved in the dig were especially excited about the timing of the coin collection find. “Discovering this Hasmonean treasure during Hanukkah imbued our work with profound meaning, especially amidst the current challenging national context,” said Dr. Bar. “We hope this site will become a cherished public landmark, enriching Israel’s archaeological heritage.”
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TOP PHOTO: Coins of King Alexander Jannaeus. (credit: University of Haifa)
