Israel repatriates two very old coins

On Monday, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security returned two ancient coins to the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The coins were dug up illegally and smuggled out of Israel; then they were put up for auction here.

One of the coins shows the seven-branched menorah that stood in the Temple in Jerusalem. It was minted during the short reign of Mattathias Antigonus, the last Hasmonean king, who was on the throne from 40 to 37 BCE.

The other coin is a Persian-era silver tetradrachm. It’s more than 2,500 years old, and it was minted in Ashkelon. It’s only the second of such coins found, so it is extremely rare.