Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe has chosen to bring an ancient Jewish coin when he travels to the International Space Station for Israel’s “Rakia” mission early next year, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced.
The 1,900-year-old coin was minted during the second Jewish revolt against the Romans, also known as the Bar Kochba revolt. Stibbe first saw the coin when he recently visited the IAA’s Dead Sea Scrolls laboratory in Jerusalem and was shown various artifacts, the IAA said in a statement on Thursday. The coin was unveiled to the public in March alongside other rare artifacts that were excavated from the “Cave of Horror” in Nahal Hever.
One side of the coin, which is from the second year of the revolt, shows a palm tree with the inscription “Shim‘on,” although only two letters are now visible. The other side of the coin has a vine leaf with the inscription “Year two of the liberty of Israel.”
I wish Mr Stibbe succeeding in his mission and the safe return to his family