“Israeli archaeologists find Second Temple coin”

March 21, 2008 at 10:36 am | In Religion |

An interesting historical discovery…

From YNET:

Israeli archaeologists find Second Temple coin
Coin dating back to days of biblical Second Temple found in 2,000-year-old drainage ditch in Jerusalem
Associated Press

Israeli archaeologists in Jerusalem say they’ve found an ancient coin that played a role in Jewish ritual at the biblical Second Temple. The silver coin is a shekel denomination. In the Bible, Jews are commanded to contribute half a shekel each for maintaining the Temple in Jerusalem.

The archaeologists say the coin they found near the Old City of Jerusalem is the type the ancient Jews used to pay the tax.

The Second Temple was built in the sixth century BC and was standing in the time of Jesus.

The coin was found in a 2,000-year-old drainage ditch. The archaeologists say the coin must have been dropped there by accident - just as sometimes a coin drops out of someone’s pocket today and gets flushed down a sewer.