A Sixth-Century Coin from Kos found at Ketef Hinnom, Jerusalem

Abstract

A silver coin from Kos was found in a burial cave at Ketef Hinnom in use between c. 650 and
450 BCE. Depicted are a crab on the obverse and an incuse square on the reverse, indicating
that it might be a trihemiobol minted in the Lydo-Milesian standard. Trade between western
Turkey and the Levant ended abruptly about 603 BCE when the coast of the Levant was
destroyed by the Babylonians. Trade resumed in the Persian period, but mainly with the
Greek mainland. As 603 BCE is too early for the coin, it probably entered the Levant in the
Persian period.