2017-01-14 Sat

A 56 CE Roman gold coin featuring Emperor Nero was discovered in mid-2016 at UNC Charlotte's archaeological excavation in Jerusalem's Mt. Zion. The coin could be a left-over of the looting at the time of the city's destruction in 70 CE.

Officials said that for the first time a coin of this kind was found in Jerusalem. Such coins are generally found in private collections and clear evidence of origin is not available.

The aureus features a bare-headed portrait of the young Nero as Caesar along with the inscription NERO CAESAR AVG IMP. The reverse features an oak wreath with letters "EX S C”, "PONTIF MAX TR P III”.

The coin is more than 100-years old when Jerusalem was destructed by the Romans in 70 AD. It was found outside the ruins of the 1st Century Jewish villas. The coin was probably hidden before the destruction of the city and was missed by looting Roman soldiers.

Experts state that the coin is dated to the same year of St. Paul's last visit to Jerusalem after which he was arrested for taking Gentiles into the Temple and incarceration in Caesarea.