Interesting read, thanks for posting!
RAMI AMICHAI AND ARI RABINOVITCH
Last updated 12:41 16/07/2012
A 1000-year-old hoard of gold coins has been unearthed at a famous Crusader battleground where Christian and Muslim forces once fought for control of the Holy Land, Israeli archaeologists have reported.
The treasure was dug up from the ruins of a castle in Arsuf, a strategic stronghold during the religious conflict waged in the 12th and 13th centuries.
More: http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-...oard-unearthed
Interesting read, thanks for posting!
You're most welcome sir.
Strategy and Tactics magazine, Nov-Dec 2011 issue included an interesting analysis of the battle mentioned, fought on 7 September 1191.
Also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Arsuf
another article on the same gold coin hoard, which I heard about this morning from another source, this article on the UK daily mail has maps, photos of coins, photos of the site, etc:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...n-knights.html
No golden chalice huh?
Cool find though.
That's a helluva find.
You're quite welcome.
Many thanks for the post, sir.
Tangible bit of history.
I thinks so also.
Of course, if I were handling the coins, I worry that maybe only 100 of the 108 coins would make it to the museum.Although, I would fight the temptation.
Last edited by Lt-Col A. Tack; 07-16-2012 at 10:50 AM.
Question now is where the gold will go to. The Isreali gov't or the Vatican?
The coins are Fatimid...they are probably plunder, Therefore they remain for half to the inventor of the Treasure (if the invention is not the fruit of an ad hoc archaelogical research. And here it is). Arsuf battle was led by Richard I, not the Hospitallers. While the order might have manned the castle, the relevant authority was in Jaffa (Be that Stupor Mundi or Saint Louis). In all aspects these coins pertain to the Israeli authorities per fructum (in nature), and the Egyptian Museums per littera (in recognition of their origins).
On a side note.
Those cannot be payment from any kind of Industry as Gold Dihrams would pretty much start a full fledged riot on any market.
Instead payment would be made through Quarter Dinars in Bronze of even older Silver minted dinars. So Ransom, Plunder or Theft.
Last edited by KoTeMoRe; 07-17-2012 at 08:28 AM.
Same story, new link:
Hoard of Crusader Gold Found in Ruins
Thursday, July 26, 2012
TAU uncovers unprecedented trove of gold coins in 13th century castle
A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University has uncovered a hoard of real-life buried treasure at the Crusader castle of Arsur (also known as Apollonia), a stronghold located between the ancient ports of Jaffa and Caesarea, in use from 1241 to its destruction in 1265.
The hoard, comprised of 108 gold coins, mostly dinars dated to the Fatimid Period (ca. 900 to 1100 AD), was discovered in a pot by a university student.
The coins bear the names of sultans and blessings, and usually include a date and a mint name that indicates where a coin was struck.
More: http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?page...ticle&id=17005