A rare 2,500-year-old silver-plated coin, known as a siglos, was discovered on a beach in Ashdod, Israel. The artifact was found by Avi Chaprak, deputy director of the Ashdod Beaches Department, who regularly searches the shoreline for lost items. Recognizing its potential historical significance, he surrendered the coin to the Israel Antiquities Authority in compliance with local law.

Experts identified the 11-gram coin as having been minted in the ancient city of Salamis, Cyprus, during the mid-5th century B.C., a period when the island was under Persian rule. The coin features a reclining ram on one side and a ram’s head within a recessed square on the other, accompanied by ancient Cypriot inscriptions and a laurel branch. Although it initially appeared to be solid silver, subsequent analysis revealed it was made of base metal with a silver coating, a common practice in Cyprus at the time due to a shortage of precious metals. Archaeologists noted that such complete, intact specimens are exceptionally rare, as these coins were typically cut into smaller pieces for trade. The discovery provides significant insight into the maritime trade connections between ancient Cyprus and the Levant.