Volunteers at an archaeological dig in the Galilee have discovered a hoard of 44 pure gold coins dating to the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610–641 CE). The coins were found hidden in the base of a stone wall, likely secreted away during the Muslim conquest of the region.
The coins are in pristine condition and feature the portraits of the emperor and his sons. Numismatists say the hoard provides important information about the monetary history and political instability of the Levant during the transition from Byzantine to Umayyad rule.