The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) on Tuesday released a video showcasing an extremely rare coin, one of the first coins used in the state of Israel.

The coin was recently discovered at the IAA compound in the Judean Hills to the north, west, and south of Jerusalem. I have written For video captions. Experts believe that this was one of the first coins used in Israel, dating back to the Persian period of the 6th to 5th centuries BC (approximately 2,700 to 2,550 years ago).

“This coin is extremely rare, with only six coins of its type found in archaeological excavations in the country. This coin was minted at a time when the use of coins was just beginning,” said IAA Head of Numismatics. said Dr. Robert Kuhl. “This rare find contributes information about how trade was conducted and the process by which world trade moved from payment by weighing silver to the use of coins. It belongs to a group of very early coins minted outside of Israel, in areas of ancient Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey.” (Related: 2023's Most Incredible Bible Discoveries)

The coin was discovered by Semyon Gendler, deputy archaeologist for the Jewish Quarter, and is believed to have been intentionally broken at some point in its history. The face is cast in a square shape and is one of the earliest designs before the protruding designs (as seen today) were developed.

This coin is the latest in a number of amazing discoveries made in Israel. In 2023, a local swimmer discovered the wreck of an 1,800-year-old cargo ship on the country's coastline. The “magic mirror” was also discovered by a teenager who was participating in a 56-mile survival course from Mount Mellon to Mount Hermon.