Coins excavated from a fortified section of Jerusalem known as The Ophel near the Temple Mount, including a rare silver half-shekel, were from the period of the Great Revolt of 70-66 CE against Rome, providing further insight into Jewish history in ancient Israel.
Archeologists from Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Herbert W. Armstrong College in Edmond, Oklahoma, said in a news
release Tuesday that most of the coins found were made of bronze and uncovered in a monumental public building dating from the time of the Second Temple.
The rarest coin found was a sliver half-shekel made by Jews. At the time of the Great Revolt, when Jews rebelled against the Roman empire in Judea, leading to the destruction of many Jewish cities — including Jerusalem — only the Roman emperor had the authority to
mint silver coins.
