Chanukah Gelt from the Chashmonoim....Hasmonean Era Coins Found On Chanukah In Jordan Valley

In ongoing archaeological excavations taking place in the Jordan Valley under the auspices of the University of Haifa and led by Dr. Shay Bar from the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the university, Dr. Yoav Farhi, and Dr. Michael Azband, a rare hoard of Hasmonean coins was discovered last Friday morning, coinciding with the Hanukkah holiday.

The hoard contained around 160 coins, all from the period of King Alexander Yannai, also known by his Hebrew name, Yehonatan. Alexander Yannai, who ruled from 104 to 76 BCE, was the son of Yochanan Hyrcanus, grandson of Shimon (brother of Yehuda Maccabee), and the great-grandson of Matisyahu, the leader of the revolt against the armies of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This famous revolt, which began in 167 BCE, led to the purification of the Temple and the establishment of the Hanukkah holiday in Jewish tradition.

Yannai was the brother-in-law of Shimon Ben Shetach, one of the senior sages of the period, and was succeeded after his death by his wife Shlomtzion.

The hoard was found at an ancient road station previously unknown in research. “The site where the hoard was discovered is likely a road station that was not recognized in previous research, including a ritual bath (mikveh), a reservoir, and other structures, located along the banks of the Tirzah Valley, on the main road leading to the fortress of Herodium (Alexandrium), which was built by King Yannai,” said Dr. Bar.

According to Dr. Yoav Farhi, curator of the Kadman Pavilion at the Eretz Israel Museum, it appears at first glance before cleaning that all the coins in the hoard are of a single type. This type features on one side an eight-pointed star with the inscription “King Alexander Year 25” in Aramaic, while on the reverse is an anchor, surrounded by the Greek inscription “[coin] of King Alexander.” This type is dated to 80/79 BCE, the 25th year of Yannai’s reign.  Only a few hoards of Alexander Yannai’s coins are known to researchers, and those found in organized archaeological digs are particularly rare. This hoard is also one of the largest of its kind ever discovered in Israel.

“All the students and volunteers working on the excavation were very excited to find such a Hasmonean hoard, especially during Hanukkah, which added a special meaning to the holiday, particularly in these difficult times for our people,” added Dr. Bar. “I hope the site will become a public attraction and will join the archaeological and heritage sites of our land.”