US Returns Two Rare, Ancient Coins to Israel Following Joint Antiquities Theft Investigation

US returns two smuggled ancient coins to Israel after joint trafficking probe

A bronze prutah bearing the only known ancient depiction of the Temple menorah and a near-unique silver tetradrachm from Ashkelon were recovered from US auction houses.

Stolen rare coin showing Temple artifacts being returned from New York to Israel

Early Persian silver coin smuggled from Israel to Big Apple also regained after being offered for sale

US returns two rare, ancient coins to Israel following joint antiquities theft investigation

One of the coins, depicting the Temple's seven-branched menorah, was minted in Hasmonean-ruled Jerusalem, while the other, the second of its kind ever found, was minted in ancient Ashkelon.

US returns rare Second Temple-era coins looted from Israel

The coins, one of which was minted by the Maccabees and bears the image of a menorah, were loot by antiquities thieves and smuggled to American auction houses. By World Israel News Staff  Two rare ancient coins, including one depicting the seven-branched menorah that stood in the Temple in Jerusalem, were returned to Israel this week after an international investigation into antiquities smuggling. The coins were handed over Monday at an official…

Lost symbols of ancient Israel recovered in international antiquities sting

Two rare ancient coins—including one bearing one of the earliest known depictions of the seven-branched menorah from the Second Temple period—have been returned to Israel following a joint investigation by Israeli and American authorities into antiquities trafficking, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced on Wednesday.The coins were formally handed over during a ceremony Monday at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York after a…

Rare coins returned to Israel in international operation

Rare ancient coins returned from USA to the State of Israel following joint investigation, including coin bearing image of Second Temple's seven-branched menorah.