This article is from Ancient Egypt issue 151
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Another recent find connected to Berenice II has been announced by the Israel Antiquities Authority. A rare gold coin depicting the Ptolemaic queen without her consort (and a cornucopia on the reverse) has been discovered during the excavation of a car park, in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem. The quarter drachma coin dates to 246-241 BC, and is made of 99.3% gold. It was minted in Alexandria during the queen’s lifetime and is one of only 20 coins of this type that are known to exist. This particular coin is unique in being the only example found within an appropriate archaeological context, and suggests possible economic ties between Jerusalem and the Ptolemaic empire at that time.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Image: Israel Antiquities Authority
