Before they were sold abroad, about 1,800 coins and antique coins were seized at a house in Modi'in

This is one of the significant conceptions in recent times, which thwarted the merchant's intention to sell the antiquities abroad. Among the objects are many rare items, as well as a coin bearing the name of "Shimon", the leader of the Bar Kochba revolt

Ziv Reinstein

19/05/2022

Thursday, 19 May 2022, 08:34 Updated: 09:41

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About 1,800 ancient coins and rings were seized at a house in Modi'in (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority)

About 1,800 antique coins, jewelry and stamps, pottery plates with inscriptions and an ancient bronze figurine were seized this week at the home of a resident of the city of Modi'in.

Among the objects seized were also rare coins, of great scientific and value importance.

Among other things, ancient silver coins from the Persian period, coins from the Hasmonean period, from the days of the Great Revolt, a silver shekel coin from the Great Revolt, and coins bearing the first name of the leader of the Bar Kochba Revolt - Shimon - were seized.

The search - by inspectors of the Antiquities Authority's Robbery Prevention Unit, with the assistance of police officers from the Intelligence Station, was carried out this week (Sunday) by order of a judge, following suspicion that the man is engaged in trading in antiquities without a license.

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Statue of God Hermes (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, July Schwartz)

Ancient coins.

In front of the photo is a coin from the days of the Bar Kochba revolt (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, July Schwartz)

During the search, the Antiquities Authority inspectors noticed that some of the coins and items contained fresh dirt.

According to the suspicion, these objects recently came from illegal excavations from ancient sites around the country.

"It is heartbreaking to think of the many antiquities sites that were destroyed there to make money from merchants with heritage values," says Ilan Hadad, the Antiquities Authority's Supervisor of Antiquities.

Captured coins are dated to different periods;

Among other things, coins made of silver from the Hellenistic period, bronze coins from the Roman period, as well as Jewish coins from various periods - from the Persian period, from the Second Temple period, from the time of the Hasmonean kingdom and from the Great Revolt and Bar Kochba revolt - including several coins bearing the name of the leader .

A special silver coin, of the "shekel" type of silver, was seized in the suspect's study.

This is a Jewish coin from the days of the Great Revolt - 67 AD, on which on one side appears the inscription "Holy Jerusalem" with a decoration of three grenades in a cluster, and on the other side - the inscription "Shekel Yisrael II" above a trophy decoration.

Apparently the coin was in the middle of a cleanup, and only half of it has been cleared so far.

In another room in the house, dozens of coins were seized inside postal envelopes bearing addresses to the recipient, ready for shipment abroad.

More on Walla!

Hundreds of antique coins were seized at the home of an antiquities robber in the Galilee

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Antique rings seized at a house in Modi'in (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Yuli Schwartz)

An antique ring with a stone inlay (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, Yuli Schwartz)

According to Haddad, "The activity of the anti-robbery unit in the Antiquities Authority, together with the Modiin police, enabled the smuggling of ancient items from Israel to foreign markets."

According to the suspicion, the man traded in antiquities, allegedly, without a license and in violation of the law for a long time.

"The suspect acted while blurring his tracks, and according to the suspicion systematically smuggled thousands of coins from Israel abroad."

During his interrogation, the suspect admitted to illegal trade, smuggling hundreds of coins abroad and buying pirated coins and illegal merchants in the territories, and bringing them into Israel illegally.

According to Eli Escozido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "Antiquities Authority inspectors struggle every day with the phenomenon of antiquities robbery and the illegal trade in antiquities. The ancient finds belong to the state and the public; each coin has a unique story. Coins and thieves encourage the theft of antiquities, which are torn from their historical story. The Antiquities Authority will continue to cooperate with other law enforcement agencies to thwart the illegal antiquities trade

. The investigation will be transferred to the Antiquities Authority's legal bureau, to examine the filing of an indictment against him. To

download photos and video, click here. Photo: Yuli Schwartz, Antiquities

Authority

2. Some of the coins seized at the house of the illegal antiquities dealer in Modi'in

3. Some of the coins seized from the illegal antiquities dealer

4. Figurine of God Hermes

5. Figurine of God Hermes

6. Coin of Shimon, leader of the Bar Kochba revolt

7. Coin of Israel and its reflection

8. Coin of shekel Israel

9. Ancient coins.

In front of the picture is a coin of Simon from the days of the Bar Kochba revolt

10. Ancient rings

11. An ancient ring with a stone inlay

12. Ancient coins were incorporated into the pendants in order to sell them as jewelry.

Photo by Yuli Schwartz, Israel Antiquities Authority

13. Video - The items found in the suspect's house

Coins were incorporated into pendants to sell them as jewelry (Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority, July Schwartz)

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