A rare 1,850-year-old bronze coin bearing the image of Roman moon goddess Luna and the Cancer zodiac sign has been recovered from the seabed off the Carmel coast in northern Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) reported on Monday.
In Roman mythology, Luna represents the moon, and is the female counterpart of her brother, Sol, the personification of the sun. Luna wears a crescent, symbolizing the new moon, as a crown and rides a chariot.
The coin was minted in Alexandria, Egypt, by the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161 C.E.) as part of a series of 13 coins, 12 of which depicted the 12 signs of the zodiac and another imprinted with the entire zodiac wheel. One side of this particular coin is dated “Year Eight,” a reference to the eighth year of Antoninus Pius’ rule, 144/145 C.E., and the reverse side depicts the Cancer sign underneath the goddess figure.
IAA general director Eli Eskosido said, “In the last decade, Israel has changed its perception of the sea. Rather than simply defining the country’s border, the sea is now recognized as an integral part of our cultural heritage.
This article first appeared in Israel Hayom.