On the shores of the Sea of Galilee, researchers have come across an extraordinary treasure. During excavations in the ancient city of Hippos, also called Sussita, they found almost 100 gold coins and numerous pieces of jewelry. The recent archaeological discovery sheds new light on the final years of Byzantine rule in the region.
Recent Archaeological Discovery: Coins from Byzantium
The treasure was found in July 2025. A metal detectorist first came across the initial coins before experts from the University of Haifa finally recovered the remaining 97 coins, as well as dozens of earrings and pendants, as German newspaper, Der Standard, reported. Fabric remnants on some coins suggest the recent archaeological discovery was once hidden in a bag that has long since rotted away.
The find stems from a period of significant upheaval. The earliest coins originate from the reign of Emperor Justin I, while the latest date to the years of Emperor Heraclius, just before the Sasanian invasion in 614. “This is one of the largest Byzantine-era treasure troves discovered in Israel,” Merkur quotes archaeologist Michael Eisenberg. He suspects that a wealthy citizen hid their possessions from the advancing Persians but never returned to retrieve them.
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Gold Treasure Tells a Story
The variety of the coins is particularly remarkable, with rare semisses and tremisses appearing alongside the more common solidi. One specimen seems to have been stamped in a mobile military mint. This archaeological find is expected to shed light not only on local history but also on the power struggles within the Byzantine Empire.
The jewelry pieces also pose a mystery. The distinct craftsmanship of several earrings and pendants has led researchers to speculate that the recent archaeological discovery may have once belonged to a goldsmith. Supporting this theory is an inscription found in a church in Hippos, which mentions a goldsmith named Symeonios.
Hippos was a Christian center with seven churches before it was weakened by wars. In the year 749, a severe earthquake finally destroyed the city for good. What remained was a silent treasure in the ground, which now, after 1,400 years, tells a long-lost story, ready to be unearthed by more archaeological discoveries to come.
Sources: Der Standard, Merkur
This article was translated with the help of AI and carefully reviewed by our editorial team.