While finding objects many hundreds of years old is not uncommon in the Jewish state, a recent discovery by archaeologists nonetheless stands out. The Times of Israel reports:
A rare, 1,850-year-old bronze coin depicting the Roman moon goddess Luna was recently found off the coast of Haifa, the Israel Antiques Authority (IAA) said Monday. The coin shows Luna above a depiction of the zodiac sign Cancer. On the other side of the coin is the head of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius, during whose reign (138–161 CE) it was minted.
Like his predecessor Hadrian, Antoninus is known to historians of Rome as one of the “five good emperors” under whose watch there was little corruption or internecine disorder. But unlike Hadrian, who subjected the Jews to some of the bloodiest and most destructive persecution in the empire’s history, Antoninus secured a positive reputation in Jewish memory:
Antoninus’ reign was the quietest of the Roman empire, coming at the height of the period of the Pax Romana, or Roman peace, and Antoninus himself was not from the military, was never in battle, and never even left Rome.
“During his rule, the empire’s relations with the Jews were greatly improved, the [anti-Jewish] decrees of Hadrian were revoked, and Jews were allowed to practice circumcision,” the IAA said.
“These steps led to amicable relations between the emperor and Rabbi Judah the Prince,” the statement said, referring to the 2nd-century CE rabbinic leader who composed the Mishnah.
Read more on Times of Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/moon-goddess-luna-rises-from-waves-on-rare-ancient-bronze-coin-found-off-haifa-coast/