The coins are a living tangible testimony of Jerusalem’s rich history and the city as a focus of pilgrimage for thousands of years. Among the many artifacts on display are a rare collection of 2,000 year old coins that were burnt during the Great Revolt by the Jews (in which the Second Temple was destroyed), unique coins minted in Jerusalem during this period, as well as those that were found in different excavations in the region and have a wide geographic provenance (from Persia, via North Africa and as far as France) - attesting to the centrality of Jerusalem for pilgrims.
Unlike pagan coins, Jewish coins portray a variety of inanimate symbols, such as a wreath, scepter and helmet, rather than the rulers that appear on pagan coins. This is due to the Jewish abstention from portraying images (“You shall not make for yourself a graven image or likeness of anything…”).
In addition, a fragment of a large sarcophagus lid, engraved with an inscription in square script that is characteristic of the Second Temple period, is on display for the first time in the Davidson Center. The lid is meticulously fashioned and the carved inscription on it reads: “…Ben HaCohen HaGadol…” (son of the high priest), probably one of the priests who officiated there between the years 30 and 70 CE.
Entrance to the exhibit, which will be open until at least mid 2010, is included in the cost of the admission ticket to the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden – Davidson Center (located between Dung Gate and the Western Wall plaza).
www.archpark.org.il