Arrest for smuggling of Alexander-era coins

APPREHENDED: Palestinian caught trying to smuggle rare, ancient coins from Gaza. Security forces arrest merchant crossing to Israel carrying 2,300-year-old coins from era of Alexander the Great (Times of Israel).

The coins were allegedly smuggled from Egypt into the Gaza Strip and were en route to Israel for sale.

The coins show Herakles (known later to the Romans as Hercules) on their face, and a seated Zeus, who was the head god of the ancient Greeks, on the reverse side. Zeus is holding a scepter and eagle.

Follow the link for photos.

I have noted other recent looting arrests in Israel and on the West Bank here and links. Cross-file under Numismatics.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.