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‘Atiqot 77 (2014)
ISBN 2948-040X
The Coins from Bet She’an (Youth Hostel)
(pp. 59*–113*)
Gabriela Bijovsky and Ariel Berman
Keywords: numismatics, coin hoards, graffiti
A total of 1797 coins, 1264 of which are identifiable, were retrieved from the excavation at the site of the Bet She’an Youth Hostel. These include a hoard of 751 seventh-century Byzantine gold
solidi
that was deposited no earlier than the early 680s, indicating that such coins continued to circulate until ‘Abd al-Malik’s reform. The other 513 identified coins range from a fourth-century BCE coin to Mamluk silver
dirhams
and fractions. The Byzantine period (sixth–seventh centuries) is represented by a large and varied series of bronze coins of all the emperors—from Anastasius I to Constans II. The Islamic coins can be divided into three groups. The largest group is from the mid-seventh century up to the earthquake of 749 CE. Abassid coins range from the second half of the eighth century to the end of the ninth century. Following a gap in the numismatic evidence (tenth–late twelfth century CE), coins from the end of the twelfth century CE, represented by Zangid, Ayyūbid and Rūm Seljuq coins, and Mamlūk coins fully representing the fourteenth century CE, were retrieved.