1,600-Year-Old Coin Hoard From Last Jewish Revolt Under Roman Rule Unearthed in Galilee
A hidden stash of 22 bronze coins, dating back to the 4th century CE, has been uncovered in an underground chamber beneath the ancient village of Huqoq in Israel’s Lower Galilee, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Thursday. Experts say the rare coins, linked to the last Jewish revolt against Roman rule, offer crucial evidence of Jewish resistance during a largely undocumented uprising in 351 CE.
The discovery offers rare archaeological evidence of the so-called Gallus Revolt, a short-lived yet violent rebellion against the Roman Empire.
The coins were found inside a concealed pit within a hiding complex—evidence that Galilean Jews had prepared for conflict much like their ancestors did during earlier revolts. The hoard was likely buried by locals who intended to retrieve it once the danger had passed.
Researchers were able to date the coins precisely due to the effigies of Emperors Constantius II and Constans I—sons of Constantine the Great—stamped on their surfaces.
Professor Yinon Shivtiel of Zefat Academic College, who co-led the excavation with IAA archaeologist Uri Berger, stated that the images directly dated to the mid-4th century, aligning with the revolt that began in the Galilean city of Tzippori.
Coins confirm the Gallus revolt timeline and preparation
Initially, the team believed the coins might be tied to earlier uprisings. But once the emperors were identified, the timeline shifted. Shivtiel noted that although the Gallus Revolt is briefly mentioned in Roman sources, such as writings by the priest Hieronymus, little physical evidence of it had been found—until now.
Part of the difficulty in studying the revolt, Shivtiel explained, is due to a major earthquake in 363 CE, which devastated much of the region shortly after the conflict. As a result, distinguishing between destruction caused by warfare and natural disasters has remained a challenge for archaeologists.
Hiding complexes such as the one at Huqoq were commonly used during Jewish revolts in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. Shivtiel said these underground systems were carefully built beneath homes, often expanded or reused during later conflicts.
While the Bar Kochba Revolt largely centered in Judah, new findings suggest Galilean Jews had also prepared for unrest.
From revolt to recovery: Huqoq’s remarkable turnaround
Though the fate of those who buried the coins remains unknown, Huqoq’s Jewish community recovered in the decades that followed.
By the end of the 4th century, residents built an elaborate synagogue decorated with intricate mosaic floors, evidence of a thriving, post-revolt settlement.
The site, which includes both the ancient synagogue and the hiding complex, is currently being developed for public access by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund.
By Abdul Moeed.
