Mysterious coin linked to Jesus’ biblical prophecy discovered

Archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000-year-old coin in Jerusalem that was minted shortly before the destruction of the Second Temple, an event Jesus predicted in the Bible.

The bronze coin dates to between 69 and 70 AD, just decades after Jesus was crucified, and was made by Jewish rebels during the fourth year of the Great Revolt against the Romans. 

The revolt, also known as the First Jewish-Roman War, was a major uprising by the Jewish population against Roman rule in Judea, occurring between 66 and 73 AD. 

Because the coin was minted right before the Temple’s destruction, it comes from the exact period when Jerusalem was under siege.

Jesus predicted the Temple’s fall in the Gospels, saying that not one stone would be left on another. These passages, found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are seen as foretelling the Temple’s destruction by the Romans in 70 AD.

The coin itself carries powerful symbolism, with its obverse side bearing an inscription in ancient Hebrew script: ‘For the Redemption of Zion,’ expressing the rebels’ hope during the final months of the uprising. 

On the reverse is a lulav, a palm frond used in the Sukkot festival, accompanied by two etrogs, the citron fruit also used in the ritual. 

The Sukkot festival commemorates the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.

Archaeologists noted: ‘It is also possible that the representations of the ritual ‘Four Species’ depicted on the coin were intended to evoke among the rebels a sense of redemption and anticipation of a hoped-for miracle and happier times.’

The Great Revolt occurred in Judea, sparked by religious tensions, heavy taxation, and political oppression under Roman rule. 

The Jewish rebels initially scored victories but were ultimately overwhelmed by the Roman legions. 

It ended in 73 CE with the fall of Masada, leaving tens of thousands dead and many others enslaved or exiled. 

The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans as punishment for the Jewish revolt and to eliminate the central symbol of Jewish worship and resistance, placing the coin’s minting in the tense months leading up to this pivotal event. 

The coin was found near the southwest corner of the Temple Mount during excavations led by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).

Yanniv David Levy, a researcher and curator in the coin department of the IAA, said: ‘The coin is made of bronze, and its state of preservation is quite good. 

‘On its obverse side, you can see a model of a goblet, and around it is an inscription in ancient Hebrew script: ‘LeGe’ulat Zion’, ‘For the Redemption of Zion.’

The coin was found at a monumental fortification discovered by the team last year.

Created by extensive quarrying, the moat formed a massive channel separating the City of David from the Temple Mount and the Ophel area. 

Cliffs on either side made the moat impassable. While its original purpose was uncertain, further excavations and connections with earlier findings revealed it as the northern fortification line of the lower city. 

‘It is not known when the moat was originally cut, but evidence suggests it was used during the centuries when Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, almost 3,000 years ago, beginning with King Josiah,’ the IAA shared.

‘During those years, the moat separated the southern residential part of the city from the ruling Acropolis in the north; the upper city, where the palace and the temple were located.’ 

The IAA explained that creating the moat was a massive, monumental undertaking, designed to reshape the natural landscape and demonstrate the power of Jerusalem’s rulers to anyone entering the city. 

According to researchers, the project required advanced engineering skills and substantial resources, highlighting the strength and authority of the city’s leaders. The moat itself is at least 30 feet deep and no less than 100 feet wide.