Gold Stash Found in Israel

One of the largest gold treasures ever to be discovered in Israel was unearthed near Herzliya.

According to an Israel National News report, the coins were found hidden in a partly broken pottery vessel at the Appollonia National Park, where archaeologists say the former Crusader town of Apollonia-Arsuf once thrived. The fortress where they were found buried has been under excavation for more than 30 years.

The treasure, more than 100 gold pieces and weighing approximately 400 grams (nearly one pound), is estimated at a worth of more than $100,000.

Included among the items found were 108 gold coins, including 93 that weighed four grams each, and 15 that weighed 1 gram each. The gold was not new and clearly was part of someone’s family treasure or business investment. The coins were minted in Egypt approximately 250 years prior to their burial under the floor tiles of the 13th century CE fortress that has been under excavation for more than 30 years.

Archaeologists also discovered many items related to the Crusades, and believe the coins were deliberately hidden by someone intent on returning later to retrieve them.

According to the Biblical Archaeological Society, the battle, which caused the person to hide the coins was identified as the Battle of Arsuf between Saladin and Richard the Lionheart.

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