The Medieval Coins from Bethsaida (1987–2014)

The Medieval Coins from the Bethsaida Excavations (1987–2014)Gregory C. Jenks

School of Theology, Charles Sturt University [email protected]

The current archaeological excavations at Bethsaida began in 1987 under the leadership of DrRami Arav, who continues as the Director for the Bethsaida Excavations Project. The project operates as a consortium with several universities participating, and its administrative center is the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Since excavations commenced and until the 2014 season, some 602 coins have been recovered at Bethsaida. A further 10 were found in 2015 but these are not included in this report.

Table 1: Coins Recovered from Bethsaida (Et-Tell) 1988–2014

Category Total 2014

ANTIQUEAutonomous 29 0Classical (but not identified further) 8 0Hellenistic 3 0Ptolemaic 59 2Seleucid 130 6Hasmonean 38 0Herodian 22 2Early Roman 83 1Late Roman 4 1

376MEDIEVALByzantine 4 0Islamic (Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid) 6 1Crusader 2 1Islamic (Zangid, Ilkhanid, Ayyubid, Mamluk & early Ottoman) 44 0European 4 2

60MODERNIslamic (late Ottoman) 95 2European 8 0Syrian Arab Republic 7 0

110

Not identified/Unidentifiable 56 3

The 60 coins described in this report are from different phases of Medieval period (500–1700 CE). Fifty of the coins are Islamic, but this report also includes 10 Byzantine, Crusader and European coins. The 110 coins from the period after 1700 will be the subject of a separate report.

The 10 non-Islamic coins are included as they are too few for a separate report. In any case they relate in different ways to the Islamic coins and many of them were found among coins recovered from the vicinity of Bedouin tombs. They are integral to the commercial and political relationships throughout the Medieval period at Bethsaida.

Gregory C. Jenks — 1 — Medieval Coins from Bethsaida

The information in this report has been prepared in collaboration with and under the supervision of Donald T. Ariel, Head of the Coin Department, Israel Antiquities Authority. Ariel Berman was responsible for identification of the Islamic coins. We also acknowledge the contribution of David Jacobson (UK) and Peter Lewis (Australia), each of whom has assisted with the identification of particular coins. Suhair Nusair has assisted me at many places with the reading and translation of the Arabic inscriptions.

Table 2: Islamic Coins from Bethsaida

Dynasty Period Coins PiercedRasidun Caliphate 11–41 AH / 632–661 CE 0 0Umayyad Dynasty 14–133 AH / 661–750 CE 4 0

Abbasid Caliphate 133–657 AH / 750–1258 CE 2 1#

Fatimid Caliphate 297–567 AH / 909–1171 CE 0 0Zangid Dynasty 521–648 AH / 1127–1250 CE 5 0

Ilkhanid Dynasty 654–736 AH / 1256–1335 CE 1 0Ayyubid Dynasty 567–742 AH / 1171–1341 CE 6 0

Mamluk Dynasty 648–923 AH / 1250–1517 CE 30 0Ottoman Empire pre-1700 923–1115 AH / 1517–1703 CE 2 1Ottoman Empire post-1700 1115–1337 AH / 1703–1918 CE 95 47

Ornaments/Tokens — 4 3

# Found in Area T, a context in which many Ottoman items, including other pierced coins, have been found.

Table 3: Medieval Coins from Bethsaida by Mint

Mint Dynasty / Ruler Coins

Baghdad Abbasid 1

Constantinople Byzantine 5

Ottoman 1

Damascus Zangid 5

Ayyubid 5

Mamluk 7 (28)

Egypt (Cairo)† Ottoman 1

European mints Holland, Kremnitz, Venice 4

Jerusalem Crsuader 1

Persia Ilkhanid 1

Thessalonica Byzantine 1

Unidentified/Uncertain Unknown Mint (21 of them Mamluk coins, and probably minted in Damascus)

28 (7)


Table 5: Medieval Coins by Dynasty and Location on Site

With the data of the Medieval coins now set out in convenient tables, it is time to ask what these coins indicate about human presence at the site at various points of time. The focus for this particular report is what the coins suggest about patterns of settlement on the site and about regional power relations during the 1,200 years between 500 CE and 1700 CE.

It is clear that we have very few coins coins prior to the end of the Crusader period.

The Byzantine period is attested by just 4 coins from before the Islamic conquest, and they all date prior to 600 CE. One of them is possibly pierced, suggesting it may have come to the site as late as the Ottoman period. There is nothing to suggest any economic activity or any settlement on the site in the pre-Islamic Byzantine era. This lack of coins fits with the absence of structural and other material remains from the Byzantine period. Bethsaida truly had become a lost city despite the Byzantine interest in pigrimage sites associated with the ministry of Jesus as described in the NT gospels.

Likewise, the early Islamic period is represented by just a few coins:

• There are no coins from Rasidun caliphate (632–661 CE).

• We have just 4 coins from the Umayyad period, even though there was an Umayyad palace at Horvat Minya on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee (which was converted to serveas a sugar refinery in the early Mamluk period).

• The Abbasid period is represented by just 2 coins, and one of them was only found in secondary use as a Bedouin ornament (and perhaps only arrived at the site in the late Ottoman period).

• There are no coins from the Fatimid caliphate (909–1171 CE). This was a period general decline across the whole countryside of Palestine.


There are just two Crusader coins, one them from Coinstantinople, and both of them are alsopierced for use as ornaments in the Bedouin style.

However, there is a clear increase in coins from mid-12th century.

As the Crusader control diminishes in the Galilee, we observe the rise of Damascus as regional seat of power This is seen in the 5 coins from Zangid rulers, the single Ilkhanid coin, the 6 Ayyubid coins (including 2 issued by Salah al-Din himself), and the 30 Mamluk coins.

The Mamluk coins are concentrated in the earlier phase of Mamluk rule, which began in 1250 CE. Just 3 of them are from the thirteenth century, but 13 are from the fourteenth century and another 5 are from the early fifteenth century (4 of them dated "early 15C"). No coins can be dated to the late fifteenth or early sixteenth century, and this correlates with the collapse of Mamluk power prior to the Ottoman conquest. The remaining 9 Mamluk coins arenot able to be dated.

We hve just two early Ottoman coins are dated prior to 1700 CE, one of them pierced for secondary use by Bedouin. This paucity of coins suggests there was no revival of settlement in the area during the early Ottoman period after the collapse in the late Mamluk period.

In summary, when the seat of imperial power was in Cairo or Baghdad there seems to have been little interest in settlement at Bethsaida. However, with the struggle to defeat the Crusader kingdoms this site was close to ground zero, and seems to have been occupied in the Ayyubid and early Mamluk period.

There is no evidence to date that the site was involved in the sugar industry that dominated the Jordan valley in the early Mamluk period, even though we have the remains of several sugar refining facilities around the Kinneret (see Stern, 2013). We have neither the distinctivepottery associated with sugar processing nor the industrial infrastructure for a sugar refinery at Bethsaida. This may change with further excavations on the lower slopes of the site, but at this stage it does not seem that the population at Bethsaida in the early Mamluk period was engaged in the processing of sugar even if they were involved in the cultivation of cane cropson the nearby alluvian plain.

This report is also available online at: https://www.academia.edu/14050389/The_Medieval_Coins_from_Bethsaida_1987_2014_

Gregory C. JenksCoin CuratorBethsaida Excavations Project

July 2015 (revised 20 August 2015)


Notes on the coin descriptions

When reading the coin descriptions in the following report, it may be helpful to be aware of the conventions thathave been applied to the information:

The information in the first line of each coin description refers to the IAA number (where one is assigned), basket number, locus, grid and area

Letters in inscriptions with underscore indicate a letter that is not sufficiently clear for a confident reading. The proposal is conjectural to some extent.

[ ] indicates text not visible but conjectural

[ … ] legend is visible but illegible

| indicates a line break on the coin

— indicates a gap between letters

Cf. indicates that the literature cited is not the same coin but a similar coin


— Byzantine Empire —(500–637 CE)

Ruler Dates CoinsJustinius II 565–578 CE 2

Tiberius II 578–582 CE 1Uncertain ruler 538–599 CE 1


116350 | B2832 | L818 | Grid | Area A 10-OCT-94

Coin, Byzantine, Justinius II (565–578 CE), Constantinople, bronze, pierced.

Weight: 10.97 gDiameter: 28.0 mmAxis: 6

Obv legend: [ … ] PP AVObv design:

Rev legend: Rev design:

Literature:

Photographs © Bethsaida Excavations. Used with permission.

116332 | B9182 | L917 | Grid | Area C 16-JUL-93

Coin, Byzantine, Justinius II (565–578 CE), Constantinople, bronze. 570–571 CE.


Obv legend: [DNIVSTI] - NVS PP AVGObv design:


Literature:



116281 | Basket | Locus | Grid | Area A 1988

Coin, Byzantine, Tiberius II Constantius (578–582 CE), Thessalonica, bronze.


Obv legend: TIBCOObv design: [Emperor and empress seated facing on double

throne, holding between them gl. cr. Emperor holds scepter in r.; empress holds scepter in l.]

Rev legend: Rev design: K. Above, cross. [To l., ANNO (vertical).]

To r., U.

Literature: Bellinger 1966: 320, No. 71–73;Cf. Malloy 1994: 76, No. 28; Metcalf, NC (1987) 1a–3.

Photographs © Israel Antiquities Authority. Used with permission.

115964 | B18406 | L2046 | Grid | Area A 28-JUN-07

Coin, Byzantine (early), bronze, Constantinople. 538–599 CE.

Weight: 7.10 gDiameter: 26.0 mm x 28.0 mmAxis: 6

Obv legend: Obv design:


Literature: BMC Phoen: 105, No. 50.



— Umayyad Dynasty —(14–133 AH / 661–750 CE)

Ruler Dates CoinsUmayyad (post reform) 78–133 AH / 697–750 CE 4


116508 | B3571 | L217 | Grid | Area A 08-MAY-97

Coin, Umayyad (post reform) (78–133 AH / 697–750 CE), bronze Fals.

Weight: 2.73 gDiameter: 22.0 mmAxis:

Obv legend: Obv design: ال إإلهھ

إإال هللاووحدهه

Rev legend: Rev design: محمد

ررسوللهللا

Literature: Walker 1956: 255, No. 846;Kindler 2009: 262, No. 218.


116380 | B6292 | L681 | Grid | Area B 22-NOV-94

Coin, Umayyad (post reform) (78–133 AH / 697–750 CE, bronze Fals.

Weight: 4.19gDiameter: 16.0 mmAxis:



Literature: Kindler 1999: 260, No. 127.



— Abbasid Caliphate —(133–657 AH / 750–1258 CE)

Ruler Dates CoinsAl-Mansur 136–158 AH / 754–775 CE 1

Unidentified Abbasid ruler 1


95597 | B2502 | L784 | Grid | Area A 07-JUN-94

Coin, Abbasid, Al-Mansur (136–158 AH / 754–775 CE), Baghdad, gold Dinar, 136 AH = 754 CE.


Obv legend: (around) محمدد ررسوولل هللا ااررسلهھ بالهھددىى وودديینن االحقّق ليیظظهھررههعلى االدديینن كلهّھ

Obv design: ال االهھ ااالهللا ووحدههال شريیك لهھ

Rev legend: (around)بسنة ستت ووثلثيینن وومئةبسم هللا ضربب هھھھذاا االديینر

Rev design: محمدررسوللهللا



144635 | B31191 | L4016 | C69 | Area T 18-JUN-14

Coin, Abbasid, uncertain mint and ruler, pierced and broken. 9C.

Weight: 1.57 gDiameter: 18.0 x 22.0 mmAxis:

Obv legend: (illegible)Obv design: (illegible)

Rev legend: (illegible)Rev design: (illegible)

Literature: Identified by Berman, 21 Jan 2015.

Notes: This is the only pre-Ottoman Islamic coin that had been pierced, whereas about 50% of the Ottoman coins were pierced for use as Bedouin ornaments. It was found in Area T, a location with many Ottoman materials, suggesting that this coin may only have been pierced in the Ottoman era. (See also two pierced Byzantine coins: #116350 and #116510, and the pierced Crusader coin: #144630.)



— Crusader Kingdoms —(1096–1187 CE)

Ruler Dates CoinsUncertain ruler 1042–1050 CE 1

Amuary, king of Jerusalem 1163–1174 CE 1


116510 | B3573 | L217 | Grid | Area A 08-MAY-97

Coin, Byzantine, Constantinople, bronze Fals. 1042–1050 CE, pierced.


Obv legend: [ … ]Obv design:


Literature:

Notes: Berman advises that a hoard of these coins was found in Tiberias. This particular coin seems to have been pierced for secondary use as a Bedouinornament.


No image available

144630 | B23839 | L2278 | G59 | Area A West 01-JUL-14

Coin, Crusader, Amuary (1163–1174 CE), Jerusalem, bilon Denier, pierced and broken.


Obv legend: REX AMA[L]RICVSObv design: Cross patte annulets in 2nd & 4th quadrants

Rev legend: + DE IER[V]SALEMRev design: Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Literature: Cf. BMC Phoen: 266, No. 352.

Notes: Double-banded. This particular coin seems to have been pierced for secondary use as a Bedouinornament.

Photographs by Hanan Shafir. © Bethsaida Excavations. Used with permission.


— Zangid Dynasty —(521–648 AH / 1127–1250 CE)

Atabegs of Aleppo and Damascus

Ruler Dates CoinsImad al-Din Zangi I 521–541 AH / 1127–1146 CE 0

Nur al-Din 541–569 AH / 1146–1174 CE 3al-Salih Isma'il 569–577 AH / 1174–1181 CE 2Imad al-Din Zangi II 577–579 AH / 1181–1183 CE 0

Berman indicates that Zangid coins were used in the Ayyubid period, and do not reflect Zangid rule in Palestine.


116293 | B1234 | T8 | Grid | Area B 1988

Coin, Zangid, Nur al-Din (541–569 AH / 1146–1174 CE), Atabegof Aleppo and Damascus, Damascus, bronze Fals.

Weight: 4.97 gDiameter: 23.0 mm x 27.0 mmAxis:

Obv legend: (Arabic text to be added)Obv design: االملك االعاددلل

Rev legend: (Arabic text to be added)Rev design: محمودد اابو ززنكی


Notes: Berman indicates that Zangid coins were used in the Ayyubid period, and do not reflect Zangid rule in Palestine


116317 | B5105 | L411 | Grid | Area B 1992

Coin, Zangid, Nur al-Din (541–569 AH / 1146–1174 CE), Atabegof Aleppo and Damascus, Damascus, bronze Fals.


Obv legend: [ صلى | الله رسول وحمد | له شريك ال وحدم| الله اال اله ال عليه الله ]

Obv design: االملك االعاددلل

Rev legend: [ وستائة) ثالتين؟ | (ثلثة سنة | مشق | بد ضرب ]Rev design: محمودد اابو ززنكی


Notes: Berman indicates that Zangid coins were used in the Ayyubid period, and do not reflect Zangid rule in Palestine.



143586 | B31124 | L4008 | B70 | Area T 19-JUN-13

Coin, Zangid, Nur al-Din, Atabeg of Aleppo and Damascus (541–569 AH / 1146–1174 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals.


Obv legend: (margin - part of legend).Obv design: (motif with two letters between two stars)

االملك االعاددلل(motif)

Rev legend: Rev design: (motif)

محمد اابو ززنكي(motif)

Literature: Cf. BMC III: 602, No. 212.


125048 | B18622 | L2061 | Grid | Area 23-JUN-08

Coin, Zangid, Al-Salih Ismail (569–577 AH / 1174–1181 CE), Atabeg of Aleppo and Damascus, Damascus, bronze Fals.


Obv legend: Obv design: (decoration)

االملك االمادداا(decoration)

Rev legend: (decoration)Rev design: اابو ززنكي [ ... ]

Literature: Cf. BMCO III: 212, No. 602 (page and item # were reversed on the IAA card)

Notes: Berman indicates no date, but that Zangid coins were used in the Ayyubid period, and do not reflect Zangid rule in Palestine.



143582 | B31068 | L4005 | B68 | Area T 10-JUN-13

Coin, Zangid, Al-Salih Ismail (569–577 AH / 1174–1181 CE), Atabeg of Aleppo and Damascus, Damascus, citing the Calpih al-Mustadi (566–575 AH / 1170–1180 CE), bronze Fals.


Obv legend: (illegible)Obv design: (decoration)

االملك االصليیح(decoration)

Rev legend: (illegible)Rev design: االمتضي

ااميیر االمؤمنيینal-Maustadi | Emir al-Mu’minin (“Commander of the Faithful”)

Literature: Cf. Edhem (rpr. 1965): 120, No. 159.



— Ilkhanid Dynasty —(654–736 AH / 1256–1335 CE)


116303 | B2043 | Locus | Grid | Area B 10-APR-89

Coin, Ilkhanid, Persia, bronze Fals.


Obv legend: (around) (illegible)Obv design: radiated sun

Rev legend: (around) (illegible)Rev design: (within circle): lion, l.

Literature:

Notes: IAA cards suggest Ikhanid dynasty, but Kindler (1999: 261, No. 140) identifies this as Mamluk a coin of Al-Ashraf Sayf al-Din Qaitbay. Berman confirms Ikhanid, fourteenth century: Muhammad Khudabanda Uljaytu 1304-1316 CE or his successor Abu Sa'id 1316-1335 CE. That was a period of political and commercial alliance with the Mamluks. This explains the presence of those coins in the Syrian area.



— Ayyubid Dynasty —(464–742 AH / 1171–1341 CE)

Ruler Dates CoinsSalah al-Din 570–590 AH / 1174–1193 CE 2

Al-Aziz I Uthman 589–595 AH / 1193–1198 CE 1

Al-Adil Sayf al-Din 597–614 AH / 1200–1217 CE 1Al-Kamil 615–635 AH / 1218–1238 CE 1Unidentified Ayyubid ruler 1


[138739 | B31013 | L4000 | B/C70 | Area T 25-JUN-12Coin, Ayyubid, Sultanate of Egypt, Salah al-Din (570–590 AH / 1174–1193 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals. 585 AH =1189 CE.

Weight: 5.71 g Diameter: 24.0 mm Axis:

Obv legend: [صالحح االدنيیا وواالديین سلطانن االمسلميین]Obv design: االملك

االنصر

Rev Legend: [ضربب بدمشق سنة خمس ووعنيین ووخمسائة]Rev design: يیوسف

بن اايیوبب

Literature: Cf. Balog 1980: 93, No. 145.


138740 | B31016 | L4000 | B/C70 | Area T 26-JUN-12Coin, Ayyubid Dynasty, Sultanate of Egypt, Salah al-Din (570–590 AH / 1174–1193 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals. AH 589 =1193 CE.

Weight: 5.39 gDiameter: 23.0 mm x 25.0 mm Axis:

Obv legend: [صالحح االدنيیا وواالديین سلطانن االمسلميین]Obv design: االملك

االنصر

Rev Legend: [ضربب بدمشق سنة تسع ووعنيین ووخمسلئة]Rev design: يیوسف

بن اايیوبب

Literature: Cf. Balog 1980: 94, No. 148.



116454 | B9088 | L342 | H64/H65 | Area E 15-JUN-98

Coin, Ayyubid, Al-Aziz I Uthman (589–595 AH / 1193–1198 CE),Damascus, bronze Fals. 595 AH = 1198–1199 CE.


Obv legend: [ضربب بدمشق سنة خمس ووتسعيین ووخمسائة]Obv design: عشانن

االملكاالعزيیز

Rev legend: [ال االهھ ااال هللا ووحدهه محمد ررسولل هللا]Rev design: سف

بن االملك االنايیو

Literature: Kindler 2009: 263, No. 6; Balog 1980: 113, No. 223.


125067 | B9558 | L963 | Grid | Area C 16-AUG-94

Coin, Ayyubid, Al-Adil Sayf al-Din (596–615 AH / 1199–1218 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals. 13C


Obv legend: [ضر | بب | بد | مشق | سنة | ستسائة]Obv design: (Hexagon)

االملك][االعاددلل

Rev legend: [ال | االهھ | ااال | هللا | محمد | ررسولل]Rev design: (Hexagon)

[ااالمامم]

Literature: Kindler 1999: 264, No. 188; cf. Balog 1980: 128, No. 284.

Notes: This coin was orignally joined to #116404. Kindler listed it as a Mamluk coin, but it was identified by Berman in 2015 as a coin of Sayf al-Din. See page 28, #116404.



116502 | B16317 | L1508 | Grid | Area 22-JUN-01

Coin, Ayyubid, Al-Kamil (615–635 AH / 1218–1238 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals. 633 AH = 1238 CE.


Obv legend: [ال االهھ ااال هللا| ووحدمم ال شريیك لهھ | ووحمد ررسولل هللا | صلى هللا [عليیهھ

Obv design: (Square in the circle type)االملك االكامل ناصر االديیف

Rev legend: [ضربب بد | مشق | سنة ثلثة | (ثالتيین؟) ووستائة]Rev design: (Square in the circle type)

محمد بن اابنبكر بن اايیوبب

Literature: cf. Balog 1980: 169, No. 465.

Notes: Berman indicates that the date is missing, but IAA database has date of 633 AH / 1238 CE.


116455 | B9049 | L343 | N5? | Area E 08-MAY-98

Coin, Ayyubid, bronze Fals. 13C.


Obv legend: Obv design: (illegible)

Rev legend: Rev design: (illegible)


Notes: Kindler lists this as a Mamluk coin, Berman indicates that the coin is not readable. The IAA card identifies the coin as "Ayyubib uncertain".



— Mamluk Dynasty —(648–923 AH / 1250–1517 CE)

Sultan Dates CoinsBahri Dynasty (648–784 AH / 1250–1382 CE)Al-Salih Ismail 635–636 AH / 1237–1238 CE (first reign)

637–643 AH / 1239–1245 CE (second reign)1

Salah al-Din Khalil 689–693 AH / 1290–1293 CE 1Nasir al-Din Muhammad I 693–694 AH / 1293–1294 CE (first reign)

698–708 AH / 1299–1309 CE (second reign)709–740 AH / 1309–1340 CE (third reign)

2

Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr 741–742 AH = 1341 CE 3

Imad al-Din Ismail 743–746 AH / 1342–1345 CE 2Salah al-Din Haiji II 784 & 792 AH / 1382 & 1389–1390 CE 1

Burji Dynasty (784–923 AH / 1382–1517 CE)Sayf al-Din Barquq 784–792 AH / 1382–1389 CE (first reign)

793–801 AH / 1390–1398 CE (second reign)1

Sayf al-Din Inal 857–865 AH / 1453–1461 CE 1Unidentified Mamluk ruler 18


116300 | B2016 | L303 | Grid | Area B 05-APR-89

Coin, Mamluk, Al-Salih Ismail (635–636 & 637–643 AH / 1237–1238 & 1239–1245 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals.




Literature: Balog 1964: 173, No. 287;Kindler 1999: 260, No. 135 (or No. 146?)

Notes: Kindler No. 135 lists this coin as a blank Fals, while No. 146 has the locus number but notes a tughra and legend (suggesting Ottoman date). However, it is clearly a Mamluk coin and not blank.


143584 | B31144 | L4007 | B69 | Area T 24-JUN-13

Coin, Mamluk, Salah al-Din Khalil (689–693 AH / 1290–1293 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals.


Obv legend: Obv design: [ ... ] االملك

almalik [ … ]

Rev legend: Rev design: االملك االمنصورر

[ ... ] قالوونن[ … ] almalik al-Mansur | qalawun

Literature: Balog 1970 (add.): 128, No. 154A.



116477 | B9239 | L532 | Grid | Area A 16-FEB-99

Coin, Mamluk, Nasir al-Din Muhammad I (third reign, 709–740 AH / 1309–1340 CE), silver-plated bronze Dirham.


Obv legend: Obv design: االسلطانن االملك

ناصر ناصر االديینيیا وواالديین [ ... ]

Rev legend: Rev design: effaced

Literature: Balog 1964: 142, No. 194.

Notes: Kindler (2009: 263, No 28) says second reign (698–708 AH / 1299–1309 CE), but Berman saysthird reign.


116295 | B4080 | L329 | Grid | Area B 1988

Coin, Mamluk, Nasir al-Din Muhammad I (third reign, 709–740 AH / 1309–1340 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals.




Literature: Balog 1964: 150, No. 222–225;Kindler 1999: 260, No. 133.



116404 | B9558 | L963 | Grid | Area C 16-AUG-94

Coin, Mamluk, Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr (741–742 AH / 1341 CE), Damscus, bronze Fals.


Obv legend: Obv design: (within hexagram) ... [اامد ]

Rev legend: Rev design: (within hexagram) ضربب | مشق | بد

Literature: Balog 1964: 164, No. 267;Kindler 1999: 264, No. 188.

Notes: Originally fused to coin #125067 (same basket &locus). See page 23, #125067.


116306 | B1733 | T63 | H52 | Area A 01-MAY-90

Coin, Mamluk, Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr (741–742 AH / 1341 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals.


Obv legend: Obv design: (Hexagon design)

Rev legend: Rev design: (Hexagon design)




545373 | B2187 | L559 | Grid | Area B 1997

Coin, Mamluk, Sayf al-Din Abu Bakr (741–742 AH = 1341 CE),bronze Fals.


Obv legend: Obv design: (within hexagram)

Rev legend: Rev design: (within hexagram)

Literature:

Notes: Kindler (1999: 261, No. 141) suggests Sayf al-Din Qaitbay (873–902 AH / 1468–1496 CE), but Berman says Abu Bakr.


116294 | B5024 | L405 | Grid | Area B 1988

Coin, Mamluk, Imad al-Din Ismail (743–746 AH / 1342–1345 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals.




Literature: Balog 1964: 173, No. 287;Kindler 1999: 260, No. 131.



116318 | B5062 | L608 | Grid | Area B 1992

Coin, Mamluk, Imad al-Din Ismail (743–746 AH / 1342–1345 CE), Damascus, bronze Fals.




Literature: Balog, 1964: 173, No. 287;Kindler 1999: 260, No. 132.


116302 | B2042 | L302 | Grid | Area B 25-JUN-89

Coin, Mamluk, Salah al-Din Haiji II (second reign, 791-792 AH /1389–1390 CE), bronze Fals. Badly minted.




Literature:

Notes: In some lists this coin is incorrectly labelled as Basket 3000.



116315 | B4056 | L350 | Grid | Area B 1990

Coin, Mamluk, Sayf al-Din Barquq (second reign, 792–801 AH / 1390–1399 CE), bronze Fals, overstrike.






143581 | B31060 | L4005 | B68 | Area T 07-JUN-13

Coin, Mamluk, Sayf al-Din Inal (857–865 AH / 1453–1461 CE), Damascus, silver, Inali Dirham (Half Dirham).


Obv legend: (around) [االسلطانن] االملك ااالشرفف اابو االناصر[al-sultan] al-malik Al-Ashraf abu-Nasr

Obv design: (centre) اايینالل (= Ināli)

Rev legend: (around): [ … ] ال هللا [ … ]Rev design: (within dotted margin the value) نصف (= half);

Literature: Previously unpublished coin, identified by Berman, 2013.



116512 | B3527 | L219 | Grid | Area A 24-JAN-97

Coin, Mamluk, silver-plated bronze Dirham.




Literature:

Notes: Kindler (2009: 262, No. 179) indicates Rukn al-Din Baybars I (658–676 AH / 1260–1277 CE), but Berman says definitely not Baybars I.


116493 | B6570 | L429 | N51 | Area A 26-JUL-00

Flan, Mamluk, bronze Fals. 14C.


Obv legend: Obv design: (blank)

Rev legend: Rev design: (blank)


Notes: Such blank coins reflect a period when the weight of the coin was more important than the inscription.



143583 | B31108 | L4006 | B68 | Area T 14-JUN-13

Coin, Mamluk, Damascus, bronze Fals, 14C.


Obv legend: Obv design: (effaced)

Rev legend: Rev design: ددمشق [ … ]

dmshq

Literature: Identified by Berman, 2013.


143585 | B31170 | L4007 | B69 | Area T 28-JUN-13

Coin, Mamluk, bronze Fals, 14C.







143587 | B31163 | L4008 | B70 | Area T 27-JUN-13

Coin, Mamluk, bronze Fals, 14C.






116351 | B2844 | L818 | Grid | Area A | 12-OCT-94

Flan, Mamluk, bronze Fals. Early 15C.




Literature: Kindler 1999: 254, No. 38. (Kindler mistakenly lists the basket number as 2843.)

Notes: Such blank coins from the early 15C reflect a period when the weight of the coin was more important than the inscription.



116381 | B5639 | L438 | K44/K45 | Area B 16-MAY-94








116395 | B9532 | L961 | Grid | Area C 11-AUG-94

Coin, Mamluk, bronze Fals. Early 15C.







116307 | B1952 | 46/90 | Grid | Area A 01-AUG-90

Coin, Mamluk, bronze Fals.





Notes: Kindler refers to this item as a "coin-shaped piece of copper".


116352 | B2962 | L831 | Grid | Area A 13-DEC-94

Flan, Mamluk, bronze Fals.







116382 | B6049 | L614 | H44 | Area B 1994

Coin, Mamluk, bronze Fals, effaced.



Rev legend: Rev design: (effaced)

Literature: Kindler 1999: 261, No. 138

Notes: Effaced coin recycled for its value as a weight.

The image(s) published in Kindler 1999 are not of this coin, nor even two sides of the same coin.


116383 | B6146 | Surface | Grid | Area B 09-OCT-94




Rev legend: Rev design: (effaced)


Notes: Effaced coin recycled for its value as a weight.



116415 | B8535 | L853 | I49 | Area 26-JUN-95




Rev legend: Rev design: Lion rampart


Notes: Kindler lists this coin as blank, but Berman (2015) suggests a lion rampart on rev design.


138132 | B23388 | L2229 | Grid | Area A West 20-JUN-11

Coin, Mamluk, bronze.

Weight: Diameter: Axis:



Literature:



— Early Ottoman Empire —(923–1115 AH / 1517–1703 CE)

Sultan Dates Coins PiercedEarly Ottoman Suleiman II 1098–1109 AH / 1687–1691 CE 1 0Mustafa II 1107–1115 AH / 1695–1703 CE 1 1


116504 | B16396 | L1515 | Grid | Area 04-JUL-01

Coin, Ottoman, Sulaiman II (1098–1109 AH / 1681–1697 CE), Egypt, silver Medin, 1520–1566 CE.


Obv legend: Obv design: سليیمانن بد سليیم حانن


Literature: Berman, verbal identification.


MODERN | B22543 | L2249 | Grid | Area A West 14-JUN-12

Coin, Ottoman, possibly Mustafa II (1107–1115 AH / 1695–1703 CE) coin with overstrike by Selim III (1204–1222 AH / 1789–1807 CE), Istanbul, silver. Pierced.

Weight: Diameter: Axis:

Obv legend: Obv design: Tughra

Rev legend: Rev design: (possibly 1107 AH / 1695 CE)

Literature: Pere 1968: 232, No. 713.

Notes: One of three coins found together. Identification here is the one proposed by Berman 2015.



— European Coins —(1500–1700 CE)


144628 | B23806 | L2271 | F59 | Area A West 26-JUN-14

Coin, European, Antonio Venier (1382–1400 CE), Venice, silver Grosso, pierced.


Obv legend: ANTOVE NERIO - • S • M • VEN[ETI]Obv design: S. Marco porge il vessillo al doge ANTO

VENERIO lungo l'asta DVX, a destra •S•M•VENETI

Rev legend: IC - XCRev design: Il rednetore in trono IC XC. Nel campo a sinistra

una stella di cincque punti, a destra l'iniziale del massaro.

Literature: Papadopolo 1893: vol 1, 229, No. 2; Thomsen Collection, #1887.


95598 | B2537 | L788 | Grid | Area A 01-JUL-94

Coin, European. Laurenzo Priuli (1556–1559 CE), Venice, silver 4 Solidi, pierced.




Literature:



125049 | B18263 | L2061 | Grid | Area 24-JUN-08

Coin, European, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1625–1647CE), Holland, silver Teston, pierced.


Obv legend: FRED HENR • D • G • PRINAVR • COM • NASS

Obv design:

Rev legend: SOLI • DEO • HONOR • ET • GLORRev design:

Literature: Kadman 1957: 102-103, No 28.


144634 | B23832 | L2280 | G59 | Area A West 01-JUL-14

Coin, European, Leopold VI of Hungary (1657–1705 CE), Kremnitz, silver 6 Krajczar, pierced, with loop. 1671 CE.


Obv legend: LEOPOLDVS .D.G. - I.S.A.GE.HV.B.REXObv design: Bust of Leopold to r, within two bands containing

legend

Rev legend: PATRONA HVNGARIAE • 1671Rev design: Madonna and Child (between K & B)

Literature: Krause and Mishler: 829, No. 164.



Appendix 1— Ottoman Empire —

(923–1337 AH / 1517–1918 CE)

Sultan Dates Coins PiercedEarly Ottoman Suleiman II xxx–xxx AH / 1687–1691 CE 1 0Mustafa II 1107–1115 AH / 1695–1703 CE 1 1Late OttomanAhmed III 1115–1143 AH / 1703–1730 CE 4 2

Mahmud I 1143–1168 AH / 1730–1754 CE 1 0

Osman (Uthman) III 1168–1171 AH / 1754–1757 CE 1 1Mustafa III 1171–1188 AH / 1757–1774 CE 3 2

Abdul-Hamid I 1188–1204 AH / 1774–1789 CE 3 2

Selim III 1204–1222 AH / 1789-1807 CE 2 1Mustafa IV 1222–1223 AH / 1807–1808 CE 1 0Mahmud II 1223–1255 AH / 1808–1839 CE 32 14Abdul Mejid 1255–1278 AH / 1839–1861 CE 14 11Abdul Aziz I 1278–1293 AH / 1861–1876 CE — —Murad V 1293 AH / 1876 CE — —Abdul Hamid II 1293–1327 AH / 1876–1909 CE 5 2

Mehmed V (Resad) 1327–1337 AH / 1909-1918 CE 4 1Mehmed VI 1337–1341 AH / 1918–1922 CE —Uncertain Ottoman ruler 25 10

TOTALS 97 47


Appendix 2— Islamic Coins by Season —


Islamic coins listed by season

Season Dynasty IAA Number Basket Number1988 Zangid 116293 1234

Mamluk 116294 5024Mamluk 116295 4080Mamluk 116296 Not knownOttoman MODERN 589Ottoman MODERN 1250Ottoman MODERN Not knownOttoman MODERN xx32

1989 Mamluk 116300 2016Mamluk 116301 3000Mamluk 116302 2042Mamluk 116303 2043Ottoman MODERN 1663Ottoman MODERN 1676

1990 Mamluk 116306 1733Mamluk 116307 1952Mamluk 116315 4056

1991 No Islamic coins recovered during this season

1992 Zangid 116317 5105Mamluk 116318 5062Ottoman MODERN 5185


1994 Abbasid 95597 2502

Mamluk 116351 2844Mamluk 116352 2962Umayyad 116380 6292Mamluk 116381 5639Mamluk 116382 6049Mamluk 116383 6146

Mamluk 116395 9532Mamluk 116402 9597

Mamluk 116404 9558Mamluk 116406 9598Mamluk 116407 Not knownMamluk 125067 9558


Ottoman MODERN 2343Ottoman MODERN 2528Ottoman MODERN 2535Ottoman MODERN 2575Ottoman MODERN 2579

Ottoman MODERN 2638Ottoman MODERN 2851

Ottoman MODERN 9435Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 2830Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 5923Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 9502

1995 Umayyad 116400 6462Mamluk 116415 8535Ottoman MODERN 8279Ottoman MODERN 8363Ottoman MODERN 8380Ottoman MODERN 8385

Ottoman MODERN Not knownOttoman MODERN Not knownUnidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 8406

1996 Ottoman MODERN 2556Ottoman MODERN 2584Ottoman MODERN 2584Ottoman MODERN 2613Ottoman MODERN 2636Ottoman MODERN 2663Ottoman MODERN 2705Ottoman MODERN 2879Ottoman MODERN Not knownOttoman MODERN Not knownUnidentified MODERN Not knownUnidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 2713

1997 Umayyad 116508 3571Mamluk 116512 3527

Ottoman 95604 369216

Ottoman MODERN 3512Ottoman MODERN 3574Ottoman MODERN Not knownOttoman MODERN 3512

Uncertain 116539 Not knownMamluk 545373 2187


Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE Not known

Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE Not known

1998 Ayyubid 116454 9088Ayyubid 116455 9049Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 3964

1999 Mamluk 116477 9239Mamluk 125142 9558Ottoman 116478 6034Ottoman 116479 9231Ottoman MODERN 5150Ottoman MODERN 5213

Ottoman MODERN 5327Ottoman MODERN 5342Ottoman MODERN 9212Ottoman MODERN 9255Ottoman MODERN 9261Ottoman MODERN Not knownUnidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 5220

2000 Mamluk 116493 6570Ottoman 95599 5800Ottoman MODERN 5616Ottoman MODERN 5624Ottoman MODERN 5673Ottoman MODERN 5701Ottoman MODERN 5701Ottoman MODERN 5703Ottoman MODERN 5735Ottoman MODERN 5763Ottoman MODERN 5779

Ottoman MODERN 5788Ottoman MODERN 5826Ottoman MODERN 5833Ottoman MODERN 5911Ottoman MODERN 5954Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 2206Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 5748Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 6589

2001 Ayyubid 116502 16317Ottoman 116504 16396Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 16281





2005 Unidentified MODERN 17681


2007 Ottoman 115978 18371

2008 Zangid 125048 18622Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 18205


2010 Ottoman 137117 11029Ottoman MODERN 11011Ottoman MODERN 11026

Ottoman MODERN Not knownUnidentified MODERN 23251Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 23124Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE Not knownUnidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE Not known

2011 Mamluk 138132 23388

Ottoman MODERN 23415Ottoman MODERN 23450Unidentified ORNAMENT 23378

2012 Ayyubid 138739 31013Ayyubid 138740 31016Ottoman MODERN 11092

?? MODERN 22543?? MODERN 22597Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 22551Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 23491

2013 Zangid 143582 31068Zangid 143586 31124Mamluk 143581 31060Mamluk 143583 31108

Mamluk 143584 31144Mamluk 143585 31170


Mamluk 143587 31163Ottoman 143567 11422

2014 Abbasid 144635 31191Ottoman MODERN 23670Ottoman MODERN 23716Ottoman MODERN 23779Ottoman MODERN 23805Ottoman MODERN 23823Ottoman MODERN 31231

Ottoman MODERN 31232Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 23764Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 23791Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 31230Unidentified UNIDENTIFIABLE 21232


ReferencesCHL Yaakov Meshorer, Gabriela Bijovsky, and Wolfgang Fischer-Bossert, eds, Coins of

the Holy Land: The Abraham and Marian Sofaer Collection at the American Numismatic Society and the Israel Museum. 2 vols, Ancient Coins in North AmericanCollections 8. New York, NY: American Numismatic Society, 2013.

DOC 1 Bellinger, Alfred Raymond, and Philip Grierson, eds. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection: I. Anastasius I to Maurice, 491–602, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies: Washington, DC, 1966.

Krause & Mishler Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler, Standard Catalogue of World Coins: Seventeenth Century, 1601-1700. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Krause Publications, 1999.

Malloy Alex G. Malloy, Irene Fraley Preston & A. J. Seltman, Coins of the Crusader States 1098–1291. New York, NY: Attic Books, 1994.

Papadopli Nicolo Papadopli Aldobrandini, Le Monete di Venezia. Venice: Topografia Libreria Emilana, 1893.

SNA Pal Lutz Ilisch, ed, Sylloge Numorum Arabicorum: Palästina IV a Bilād aš-Šām I. Tübingen: Ernst Wasmuth, 1993.

Thomsen Collection Kristian Ersev, Medieval Coins in the Christian J. Thomsen Collection: Byzantine, Dark Ages, Crusader, Islamic, England, Serbia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and the Low Countries. South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1992.

Pere Nuri Pere, Coins of the Ottoman empire. Istanbul: 1968.

Sear David R. Sear, Byzantine Coins and their Values. London: Seaby, 1988.

Stern Stern, Edna J. "Sugar Production in the Lake of Galilee Region as Revealed by Ceramic Vessels Unearthed at Archaeological Excavations in Tiberias (Crusader Period, 12th Century CE)." In 45 years for the Golan Heights survey. A conference inhonor of Moshe Hartal. Hecht Museum, University of Haifa, 2013.

Walker Walker, John. A Catalogue of the Arab-Byzantine and Post-Reform Umaiyad Coins. London: British Museum, 1956.


The Medieval Coins from Bethsaida (1987–2014)

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