Israeli archaeologists announced Monday the discovery of a trove of early Islamic gold coins found during recent salvage excavations near the central city of Yavne.
The collection of 425 complete gold coins, most dating to the Abbasid period around 1,100 years ago, was a “extremely rare” find, Israel Antiquities Authorities archaeologists Liat Nadav-Ziv and Elie Haddad said in a joint statement.
For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The trove, which was unearthed by youth volunteers, also included hundreds of smaller clippings from gold coins that would have served as smaller denominations.
Robert Kool, a coin expert with the antiquities authority, said an initial analysis indicates the coins date from the late 9th century, considered the golden age of the Abbasid Caliphate that controlled most of the Near East and North Africa.

The discovery was among the largest caches of ancient coins found in Israel. In 2015, amateur divers found around 2,000 gold coins off the coast of the ancient port city of Caesarea dating to the Fatimid period in the 10th and 11th centuries.
“Hopefully the study of the hoard will tell us more about a period of which we still know very little,” Kool said.
Read more:
After UAE-Israel deal, is Bahrain the next Arab state to move toward peace?
Another Israel-Arab deal expected in coming weeks: Israeli ambassador to US
Iran could bear responsibility for UAE-Israel reconciliation: Veteran US diplomat
-
UK foreign minister to meet Israeli, Palestinian leaders to press for dialogue
British foreign minister Dominic Raab will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas this week to press ... Middle East -
Pompeo begins Middle East trip, arrives in Israel: Ambassador
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Israel on Monday, kicking off a five-day visit to the Middle East focused on Israel’s normalizing of ties ... Middle East -
Israeli police arrest anti-Netanyahu protesters
Israeli police said Sunday they had arrested 30 demonstrators after thousands rallied in Jerusalem demanding the resignation of Prime Minister ... Middle East -
Another Israel-Arab deal expected in coming weeks: Israeli ambassador to US
Last week Israel and the UAE announced a historic agreement to normalize relations between the two countries, in exchange for the suspension of ... Features